Planned improvements to bus facilities in the city centre look set to start next week.
New bus shelters will be installed at the bus stops on Mayflower Street, which will be widened to improve traffic flow.
More space is going to be created for the buses to use. The scheme will see:
- A new bus stopping area with extra space to drop off passengers
- There are currently two bus stops and one shelter. The new scheme will have two bus shelters and bus stops with space for three buses
- Kerb adjusted to widen the road so that buses and cars can pass by when other buses have stopped
- Street furniture removed if surplus and relocated where necessary
- Disabled bay relocated – with details to be confirmed later
- Eight car parking spaces removed.
The work is being carried out to create more bus stops in the city centre ahead of major changes to the layout of Royal Parade. Some bus services – yet to be decided – will be moved to Mayflower Street permanently rather than Royal Parade to create more space and cut congestion on Royal Parade. It should also help improve air quality as fewer buses will be queuing for space.
These improvements are funded by the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund which is costing £615,000.
Traffic orders have been submitted for when the work is carried out as well as changes to traffic management after the work.
The enabling works get underway from Tuesday 1 November to 11 November and will see trenching for Western Power electricity diversions under two-way traffic lights. Four car parking spaces will be removed and the disabled parking space relocated to the end of the remaining parking spaces opposite The Early Bird.
The work will be carried out in five phases:
- Phase 1: Monday 14 November to Wednesday 14 December
Work on north side of Mayflower Street and a traffic one-way system east to west for footway reconstruction, including a new kerb line and renewal of flag stones. Pedestrian access will be maintained. Disabled spaces and remaining car parking spaces will be retained during construction.
The rest of the phases will get underway early in the new year.
- Phase 2: comprises work on the south side of Mayflower Street and a traffic one-way system east to west for street furniture relocation, bus stopping area preparation and improved drainage works. Pedestrian access will be maintained. Disabled space and all on-street car parking from Mayflower Street car park to Cobourg Street removed during construction works.
- Phase 3: Road closure between Mayflower East car park to end of Armada shopping centre for the installation of two bus stops, gullies and footway. The street will be accessible for pedestrians apart from a brief period where there may be a short pedestrian diversion. Car parking spaces will be removed temporarily outside Armada Way shopping centre.
- Phase 4: Night road closure from 7pm to 7am (subject to weather) from Armada Way shopping to Cobourg Street for resurfacing and lining work. Pedestrian access will be available with crossing places at either end
- Phase 5: relocation of disabled car parking space.
Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We are talking to the City Centre Company, businesses – including the Copthorne Hotel – about the plans and hope to work with them on any issues they raise.
“Plymouth has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030 so we need to encourage more people to get out of their cars and use public transport when travelling to and from the city centre. This work once complete will help alleviate congestion on Royal Parade as well as emissions build up as fewer buses will be using the bays on Royal Parade.
“We recognise that all these changes are coming in a relatively short period of time. Much of the timing is beyond our control – we’ve had a combination of the pandemic, supply issues and tight government funding time tables which means we have to do a lot of projects in the next six months or so. These changes will be worth it.”
The permanent Traffic Regulation Order once the work is complete will include:
- Reduction in speed limit from 30mph to 20mph through Mayflower Street
- Changes to the centre lining where the road is being widened
- Changes to the double yellow line lengths
- Stopping vehicles over 7.5T from turning west out of Mayflower East car park
- No waiting or loading in specified areas