Improving bus journeys in Southampton
Services to Southampton General could be given a boost under the plans
Plans for a new bus lane in Southampton have been unveiled.
Civic chiefs are looking to create a bus lane near the junction of Lords Hill Way and Coxford Road.
The move is set to support bus services to the hospital and Southampton’s first park and ride at Bargain Farm in Nursling.
Transport bosses said preparatory works are set to begin in November with the bulk of the work expected to start in January 2022.
It comes as initial proposals were amended following a public consultation.
The latest proposals are for a new rapid bus lane that bypasses the junction completely for buses, taxis and cyclists turning left from Coxford Road heading towards Lordshill.
The existing signal junction is instead set to remain unchanged.
Southampton City Council said taking left turning buses, taxis and cyclists away from the traffic signals “improves journey times for all vehicles using the junction”.
The authority also said the new bus jet lane will benefit park and ride buses as well as other buses following this route from the hospital to Lordshill.
The news comes as preparatory work to transform Frogmore junction is set to begin on Monday. (Sept 27).
Cllr Jeremy Moulton, cabinet member for growth, said: “It is a great scheme that would support hospital staff get to and from the hospital and it is good connectivity with the M27, the junction improvements. It will benefit everyone. They will speed up bus travel but they will also improve things for cars, so it is a win-win.”
Cllr Sarah Bogle, shadow cabinet member for transport, said: “I welcome this initiative which hope will make it easier for staff at the hospital and others using this route to use alternative travel options including the bus.”
The project will be funded with part of the £57m Transforming Cities fund granted to Southampton City Council and Hampshire County Council in 2019.
The original proposals now scrapped were for the introduction of additional staggered traffic signals and a reduction in the number of lanes for other traffic.
But only 24 per cent of local residents agreed with the scheme while 58 per cent disagreed leading to a change in the proposed design.