Works to deliver a bus lane on New North Road are scheduled to continue on Monday 22 July 2024 and will be completed by 26 July 2024. The works will affect the section of New North Road between Longbrook Street and Sidwell Street. These dates are based on weather being suitable to undertake works and therefore subject to change.
The proposed works will include road widening, carriageway resurfacing, lining, signing and traffic signal work. The existing tree canopies will have to be raised to allow a double decker bus to pass underneath the branches.
Background to the scheme
A public consultation was held for the scheme between 17 July 2023 and 14 August 2023. Details of the consultation can be found here.
You can also view an impact assessment for the scheme.
Following the public engagement, the scheme was approved by Devon County Council’s Cabinet. The report to Cabinet can be accessed here.
What changes are being made?
The scheme encompasses:
- Construction of a new contraflow bus lane on New North Road between Waterstones and John Lewis in Exeter city centre.
- Lane width will be facilitated by widening the existing contraflow cycle lane and narrowing the existing vehicular traffic lane.
Upon completion, the existing northbound one-way lane will retain access for all vehicles travelling northwest towards New North Road from Paris Street.
To accommodate the height of double decker buses, the trees on the eastern footway will be pruned to raise the tree canopies.
When are the works taking place?
Works to deliver the bus lane are proposed to be undertaken as a combination of day and night works:
Day time works
The proposed day time works are to be undertaken within a cycle lane closure on the section of New North Road between the junctions of Bailey Street/Longbrook Street and Sidwell Street/High Street.
These works are currently programmed to start from the 24 June 2024 within normal day working hours for an anticipated three-week duration. The lane closure is anticipated to be in place for the duration of the scheme 24 hours a day and will only affect southbound cycle traffic along New North Road.
During this time, cyclists travelling in the southbound direction will be expected to dismount and push their bikes along the pavement adjacent to John Lewis.
Night works
The proposed night works are to be undertaken during a road closure on New North Road between the junctions of Bailey Street/Longbrook Street and Sidwell Street/High Street.
These works are currently programmed from 24 June 2024 to 28 June 2024 and from 22 July to 26 July 2024.
The road closure is anticipated to be in place between the hours of 7:00pm and 6:00am depending on traffic flows. The southbound lane of Longbrook Street between King Williams Street and New North Road junction will also be closed for the duration of the night works.
Access to Bailey Street and Longbrook Street from a southbound direction along New North Road will be maintained throughout the night-time road closures.
Access to Sidwell Street from Paris Street in a northbound direction will also be maintained throughout the night-time road closure works with normal operation in the day time hours.
A diversion route for northbound direction traffic will be in place to facilitate the night-time road closure on New North Road.
Contact details
For general scheme enquires:
- By email: UK.DevonHSM@wsp.com
- By telephone: 01392 229700
- By post: Transport Planning, Room 120, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 4QD.