Cycle contraflow lane on South Street (Exeter city centre)

Devon County Council is planning to construct a cycle contraflow lane on South Street in Exeter City Centre.

Background

The proposals form part of a number of cycle infrastructure improvements linking Exeter Quay to the city centre.

Exeter’s riverside cycle routes with the Quay as their centre point are heavily used (more than 2,000 users per day this summer) however, connectivity between the Quay and the city centre by bicycle is lacking.

Improving cycle links into the city centre will not only provide low carbon travel options, it will also promote physical activity and facilitate more trade into the city centre.

Scheme

The following document shows the proposed layout and location plan. 

The scheme involves partial removal of the existing lining to the western side of South Street in order to provide additional carriageway width and a cycle lane. The contraflow cycle lane will be a 1m wide advisory cycle lane from Market Street to the junction with the High Street. The cycle contraflow lane will be protected from car door opening with a 0.5m buffer width.

At the High Street end (top end) of South Street, the cycle lane will be protected with a buffer island and will receive its own traffic light system. To achieve this, the loading bay at the top of South Street (outside the Oxfam shop) will be relocated approximately 25m to the south along South Street, replacing two existing car park spaces.

Changes to the coach bay at the Market Street end (bottom end) of South Street will enable the two lost parking spaces to be reinstated.

Across Market Street, the cycle lane will be painted green to emphasise its presence.

Subject to approval at the County Council’s Highway and Traffic Order Committee in March 2021, it is anticipated that construction will commence during spring/ summer 2021. It is anticipated that the majority of work will be carried out at night.

Have your say

This is a modest scheme to address an immediate connectivity issue. Longer-term, changes to Market Street/Combe Street to support pedestrians and cyclists are planned, however, these are dependent on future funding.

Additional proposals to connect the quayside area to the city centre include contraflow cycling on West Street and Quay Hill. These schemes are currently at the design stage.

If you would like to provide feedback on the South Street proposals, please email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk or post your response to Transport Planning Team, Matford Offices, County Hall, Topsham Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX2 4QD.

All submissions must be received no later than Friday 26 February 2021.

We take accessibility seriously and recognise that some of the information presented in the file available on this page may not be fully accessible to someone using assistive technology such as a screen reader. If you need guidance or an alternative format, email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk with details of any preferred format and the assistive technology you use.