A new traffic lane is under construction to help buses easily exit Derby’s bus station.
Work began on August 24 on St Aklmund’s Way and will take approximately six weeks to complete. Construction will see the exit widened and a new lane created on the inner ring road in a bid to improve journey times for travellers.
A new footpath will also be built between the bus station and St Alkmunds’s Way, which will provide links to the Intu Riverside Carpark and Bass Recreation Ground.
Derby City Council has claimed that traffic disruption will be minimal throughout the construction process. The plans for the new lane are part of the council’s transport improvement scheme and the project was given the go ahead after feedback from local operators.
Cllor Asaf Afzal, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways, said: “Buses are vital to many of Derby’s residents – this work will ensure the continued service reliability for those who use them.
“The work was being carried out during the school summer holidays to reduce traffic disruption and will be undertaken from the Riverlights side of the project rather than in the carriageway.”
Bus users have given the plans a cautious welcome, however, some believe there are more difficulties that need to be addressed.
Anton Rippon, from Mickleover, regularly uses the bus station and was full of praise for it, but agreed that there are problems.
He said: “The difficulty you have is that buses pull in and have to reverse out so even if the bus does get in, which can take time, it then has to wait for another vehicle to move. I can see there is a problem but I honestly can’t really see how they could manage to make it better.”
