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The improvement works of North Somerset Council’s Bus Services Improvement Plan include converting the left turn to Barrow Gurney into a bus lane with a bus gate and turning the nearside ahead-only lane into an ahead and left turn for all vehicles. For Airport bound traffic, the nearside lane will be converted from an all-vehicle lane to a bus only lane.
The work will also include some footway improvements, the introduction of an ANPR camera and a bus priority traffic signal box, reducing traffic pinch points allowing quicker priority bus access.
Following a successful bid to the Department for Transport (DfT), over £105m funding has been allocated for bus improvements, with £48m earmarked for capital improvements in North Somerset alone. £57.5m will be used as a pooled revenue fund with the West of England Combined Authority to enable delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.
The ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plans aims to offer an improved service, a quicker and greener alternative to using the car, with accessible and affordable bus travel, offering accessible options with simple and consistent fares.
Additional improvements as part of BSIP include:
- introducing Demand Responsive Transport – a local bus that connects communities that are without a local service
- improving 18 bus corridors in North Somerset, resulting in quicker services and higher bus frequencies in towns and urban areas
- accelerating the decarbonisation of transport through the bus improvements – a key priority for the council as part of its commitment to tackle the climate emergency
- Supporting economic growth enabling people and businesses to connect, attend college whilst travelling easily and affordably to new education and employment opportunities
Steve Hogg, Executive Member for Transport and Highways at North Somerset Council, said: “The second scheme in the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will make a positive difference to bus users. The changes taking place on Barrow Gurney will improve reliability of bus services by removing pinch points along the A38 and reducing journey time through bus prioritisation 24 hours a day.
“The BSIP programme allows us to make positive changes that will have a huge effect for bus users as we continue to create public transport that offers equal access to employment, shopping and leisure.”
The road works will start in April and will take approximately 12 weeks.
More information on the Bus Improvement Service Plan can be found on the council website: Bus service improvement plan | North Somerset Council (n-somerset.gov.uk).