Bus lane to be created along A326 Marchwood bypass as county council strive for better public transport
PRIORITY bus lanes are to be created along the A326 to boost public transport, under plans given the go-ahead by Hampshire County Council.
The changes are among seven to have secured a share of £57m of funding from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, following a successful joint bid from HCC and Southampton City Council.
The biggest change will be a new northbound bus-only lane created before the dual carriageway on the southbound section of the A326 Marchwood bypass.
Controlled by traffic lights, the bus lane will make a right turn across the oncoming carriageway and continue along the A326 and connect to the existing northbound lane, approaching Rushington roundabout.
A new bus stop will also be created outside Hounsdown Business Park.
The priority bus lane will resume prior to Rushington roundabout and a new shared footway/cycleway will be created.
In Totton a dead end will be opened up to create a new bus and cycle only link between Junction Road and the A36 Commercial Road. Enhanced bus stops will also be installed at Totton precinct/
Approval for the new layouts was given by Cllr Rob Humby, HCC cabinet member for economy, transport and environment.
He said: "This successful bid shows what can be achieved through dedicated partnership working and builds on our ambitions to support our county’s greener economic recovery from the coronavirus outbreak, linking transport and housing developments, helping to reduce congestion, and improve air quality.
"I am grateful for the valuable feedback provided by the public as part of the consultation exercise that took place over the summer.
"We are very conscious of the local environmental impact of these projects and have redesigned the original scheme at Rushington roundabout to protect and retain trees on the roundabout."
An HCC report said: "The schemes have been identified as being on a key route between Southampton and local communities, which travel to and from Southampton.
"The aim is to offer better connectivity of public transport than is currently available and a choice of travel mode that will also encourage commuters to change mode from cars to buses thereby reducing air quality issues and congestion in the Waterside and onwards to Southampton centre."
