Improvements to bus service between the Waterside area and Southampton costing £4.371 million

Multimillion-pound Improvements to a bypass and roundabout will result in a more reliable bus service on the Waterside, the county council hopes.

The £4.371 million scheme for Marchwood bypass and Rushington roundabout will include the creation of a new bus priority entrance.

There will also be new bus shelters at the Hounsdown Business Park, a new 300-metre bus lane, enhanced cycle and pedestrian facilities, and updated crossing point at Rushington Roundabout. Safety improvements will also be carried out on the roundabout.

Funding for the work came from the Department for Transport (DfT) Transforming Cities Programme, with additional cash from the DfT’s Safer Roads fund.

Councillor Nick Adams-King, executive lead member for universal services, said: “This is a key route for local communities along the Waterside and these improvements build on our ambitions to support the local economy by providing better transport links.

“Those travelling by bus will enjoy better service and journey time reliability, and the completed scheme will also make it more enjoyable and safer to cycle and walk in the area.

The work will be undertaken in phases and is estimated to be completed by next summer.

The first phase of construction starts this month on Marchwood Bypass, with work taking place Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm for the duration of the scheme.

During the Christmas period, the extent of traffic management will be reduced to lane narrowing and off-road working from late November until early January 2024.

Access to local businesses will be maintained throughout the work.