Plans for new bus lanes and a segregated bike path on a busy main road in Bristol city centre have been approved by the city council.

The new bike path will run along Temple Way from the Old Market roundabout down to the Friary, connecting up several important routes in the cycling network.

The plans form part of Bristol City Council's ambition to get more people to use public transport or to cycle and walk. Congestion is an ongoing issue on Temple Way as it holds up bus services, leading to longer bus journeys for commuters.

The full business case was approved by councillors on the transport policy committee on Thursday, but final approval is needed by the West of England Combined Authority.

Currently, cyclists have to use a strip of red paint along the edge of the busy road, or cycle along the pavement, sharing space with pedestrians.  The new route will connect Temple Meads with the existing bike path through Castle Park, as well as the Concorde Way route to the north of Bristol. A new bike path is also planned along Victoria Street.

Adam Crowther, head of city transport at Bristol City Council, said: "What we're creating here is a network. This is creating links between various different routes, for both buses and cycling.  If you look at the programme as a whole across the city centre, there are lots of elements taking out traffic capacity, and therefore that mode shift will happen across the whole area.  It's about creating a wider network that enables a transition to more sustainable modes across the whole of the city centre."

The plans state the underpass at Broad Plan will not be changed, but it could potentially be looked at in future.  Plans are also being worked up to better connect the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, a major cycling route through east Bristol, with Old Market and Castle Park.  Upgrades to the Friary are also being explored as part of a separate project.