Residents in Havant will soon enjoy more reliable bus journey times after plans to improve the bus facilities on Bedhampton Road, which form part of a wider package of improvements, were agreed by Councillor Nick Adams-King, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Highways Operations at his recent decision day.
He said: “I am grateful for the valuable feedback from residents and businesses who took part in the public consultation. We have listened to what they have said and I am pleased to see that the original scheme design plans have been revised to address the comments relating to the right-turn out of Nursery Road, the visibility from Brookside Road and also potential traffic congestion.
“The planned improvements to the bus facilities will mean that residents can have more confidence in the bus journey timetables for those services that run between Havant, Portsmouth and Southsea.”
Details of the decision day can be found here.
The Bedhampton Road scheme is one of several measures proposed within the Portsmouth City Region Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) programme, funded by the Department for Transport. The programme includes improvements at the Spur Road and Portsbridge roundabouts in Havant, these being delivered by Portsmouth City Council.
Councillor Adams-King added: “These plans are in line with the Government’s ambition to encourage residents to leave the car at home and make greater use of public transport or to cycle or walk for their local journeys. Within this TCF programme we will be developing and enhancing existing facilities and networks with the aim of encouraging greater use of public transport.”
The proposed scheme on Bedhampton Road aims to update the existing bus facilities on the westbound approach to the Bedhampton Hill / Portsdown Hill Road roundabout together with general improvements to the footways and pedestrian crossing point. The plans include the relocation of the bus stop a short distance to the west and the creation of a short westbound bus lane to eliminate, as far as possible, any delays to buses departing the stop, whilst also ensuring that the flow of traffic is not impacted.
For more information visit the scheme web pages: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/tcf-bedhampton-improvement
Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and the Isle of Wight Council jointly secured nearly £56 million from the Fund to support 23 schemes that will create or upgrade walking and cycling routes, and bus infrastructure.
More information about each of the schemes can be found on the County Council’s website https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/transportschemes/tcfportsmouth