Now, way back during the pandemic, I told you about the plans that Southampton had with their Transporting Cities Fund and some of the big changes that they are hoping will bring public transport in Southampton forward. Some of these plans have been discussed within council meetings recently and we are starting to see progress.
In recent weeks, local press have been reporting that council decisions are finally being made and that must be a good thing.
A Quick Recap
Way back, in the infancy of the Hampshire Bus Update, we told you of Southampton’s plans back in November 2020.
You can read about that here; but these are things that are not quite yet underway.
- Nothing seems to be happening yet at Southampton Central Station and the Southside redevelopment.
- Woolston Interchange was a project planned for work towards the end of 2022.
- Chilworth Roundabout, the (now not really) new 30mph limit down The Avenue and bus improvements are completed.
What’s Moving Forward?
Marchwood ByPass
So the big progress being made with the Marchwood ByPass is that approval has apparently been made for a new bus-only lane from the bypass towards South Totton. Bus priority improvements will mean that a new contra-flow lane will be created alongside the Marchwood Bypass and will also tie in to other improvements closer to Totton.
Hampshire County Council have now signed off on the plans, which should mean that works can soon get properly underway.
Hampshire Country Council documents on the matter (and far better than a rubbish Google Maps drawing) can be found:
- As a general public document including a map
- As a technical drawing
Southampton City Bus Hub
A planned central bus station and transport hubs has also now been given approval from Southampton City Council.
Although not strictly a bus station in the traditional sense, the new installation on Castle Way will include an open space park area as well as facilities for people to get off a bus and onto an e-scooter or cycle. this is of course if the e-scooter trials are still ongoing or the law has been changed for private use.
The proposals at the council Cabinet meeting replace the 6 bus stands close to West Quay with 10 new ones, all at the cost of around 130 parking spaces. I am sure that will cause concern with the locals who prefer the cheap parking facility there compared to that of West Quay, but Councillor Jeremy Moulton was quoted in the meeting as saying that a park in this space was always intended.
The bus hub, as you can see in the Southampton City Council artists impression, is less of a bus station in a traditional sense. It sort of reminds me of an abstract version of what Portsmouth’s The Hard used to be like, with columns of bus stops rather than a forward in and reverse approach to health and safety.
See More at https://transport.southampton.gov.uk/albionplace
An Aside…..
In order to grab a picture of the car park as it is now, I have turned out on the train to take a look. First though, I have stopped in the Mayflower Village for lunch as I have not yet eaten today.
I am tempted to start a Pubs Near Buses Update, or Spoons Near Stations, or something as I spend more business and pleasure lunches in town centres these days…. oh the joys of trying not to be a bus spotter.
Anyway. Looks great these days, has a slightly different range of beers on taps and a good variation on the beer and pizza menu theme, although largely it is beer and pizzas. I recommend taking a look if that is your sort of lunch idea! Oh… and it has £5 lunch burgers and pizzas too.
[This aside is not sponsored, paid for or even known about by the pub]
Southampton Park & Ride
The park and ride facility for the NHS at Adanac Park should have already started. I have not been to Adanac Park yet to see if that is actually the case. Many of you travelling around Lords Hill and the General Hospital will have already seen work start though.
Northbound, Coxford Road is closed approaching the Lords Hill Road traffic lights, allowing the junction to be re-developed. This will help those of you using services like First Southampton’s service 3 and Bluestar service 17; as well as facilitate a good connection for Southampton General Hospital’s Park & Ride.
The redevelopment of the junction is not going to be as extensive as first planned though, following feedback on the original plans. Let’s see how that pans out!
It’s good to see…
… that the Transforming Cities Fund is coming to fruition in Southampton. People may complain about bus services being an absolute pain at the moment, but once the works are complete, the drivers are back and the buses running; surely this will make things better for Southampton?
Just a small technical point. On the Marchwood Bypass Bus Lane – as this is outside of Southampton’s City boundary, why would the city council have to sign off on the project?
Good spot!
I meant Hampshire County Council and have now corrected that.