What’s happening on Royal Parade and why?
This is a key route for the city and we will still keep Royal Parade eastbound open to all vehicles, except for some overnight activities. Access to shops, businesses and residential properties will remain at all times, which all limits the amount of space to carry out the work.
How will the saw tooth design improve services?
The sawtooth negates the need for any reversing. The drivers will know where to park up by the new dark paving band on the pavement. From that point they can manouvre out of the sawtooth without affecting any other bus or by reversing.
You said the scheme would start in Spring. Why the delay?
It’s taken longer than anticipated to get contractors appointed to carry out the works. We also decided to start construction after two key city centre events had taken place to minimise the impact on people enjoying these events.
Can’t you wait until the end of the other city centre schemes?
We know that yet another scheme starting is far from ideal, but in order to secure vital external funding work, we can’t delay the start of the scheme any further. The amount of schemes in the city centre is a positive sign of investment. If we delayed and waited for all schemes to be completed, we would simply be extending the period of disruption.
Old Town Street/New George Street works are now complete. The works will coincide with work on Armada Way, however the project teams are liaising closely to ensure as little interruption as possible.
Will this scheme impact city centre events?
City centre events will still go ahead as planned and the project team will work with event organisers to ensure access requirements are clear. We will also publicise details of the temporary bus stop locations before bigger events to ensure visitors know where to get their buses from.
Will the scheme be finished in time for Christmas shopping?
There will still be some works taking place in the run up to Christmas and the scheme won’t be complete by December 2025. The contractors plan to have finished the areas immediately in front of the shop fronts and in the area around Armada Way.. Where possible, the contractors will open up areas that are complete. They will maximise space for shoppers by removing Heras fencing and minimising working areas where possible.
Are the average speed cameras just another money maker?
The Council does not make any money from traffic camera fines. Once police operating costs are met, surplus money from fines goes to the Vision Zero road safety partnership and by law the funding has to go into road safety measures.
There are four existing static speed cameras along Royal Parade (two sets on each side). These are currently housed on extended sections of the central reservation that stick out into the road. We need this space to build the new layout. These cameras will therefore be replaced with an average speed camera system covering the length of Royal Parade to ensure a safe space for pedestrians is maintained.
The speed limit will remain at 30mph once the scheme is finished.
Vision Zero brings together local councils, emergency services, health trusts, National Highways, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety.
Its vision is to cut the number of deaths and serious injuries to zero.
Does the speed limit apply to emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance)?
Police, fire and ambulance services are allowed by law to exceed speed limits to respond to emergency calls. The introduction of the 20mph limit does not change that and should not delay their response.
In fact the police believe it could make it easier for emergency services to make progress.
Does driving at 20mph cause damage to cars?
Lower driving speeds should result in lower tyre, road and brake abrasion. Smoother driving, with fewer accelerations and decelerations, generates fewer particulate emissions from tyre and brake-wear. You can read more in this Transport for London report from 2018.
How will the real time displays in the bus shelters be upgraded?
The displays will show real times and the network will be upgraded from 3G to 4G.