A series of significant road improvements in Portsmouth city centre are now complete, ensuring safer crossing points and quicker journeys for all road users, including bus passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians – part of the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit (SEHRT) project.
Delivered by Portsmouth City Council in partnership with contractors, Alun Griffiths, the newly aligned city centre roads are designed to prevent buses from getting caught in traffic, reducing their contribution to congestion.
Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, commented:
“These changes will improve travel in the city centre for everyone, reducing journey times and getting people even closer to the city centre shops, faster and more easily.
“More people are also now choosing different and more sustainable ways to travel, and it’s important that our city evolves to reflect this positive shift.”
The latest data from the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that buses in Portsmouth have seen a 22.3% increase in passengers over the course of the last year with Portsmouth rated as the number one city for bringing passengers back to the bus.
The improvements include a new bus gate at Unicorn Road junction, which can be used by buses, taxis, and cyclists. The gate links Cascades Approach with Unicorn Road and is accompanied by a new tiger crossing — a type of crossing allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross safely together.
A shared footway has also been introduced, providing space for both cyclists and pedestrians between Cascades Approach and Unicorn Road.
Buses travelling out of the city centre can then follow the new layout to the second bus gate (which only buses and bicycles can use) between Charlotte Street and Commercial Road North, east of Eden Street.
This layout has replaced the previous pedestrian-only zone, with the addition of designated footways and a new pedestrian crossing opposite the NCP car park.
Further enhancements are planned for the October planting season, with landscaping improvements set to make the area between Cascades and St Agatha’s Church greener and more welcoming for all visitors.
These upgrades not only improve transport efficiency but also support Portsmouth’s Air Quality Local Plan and the Local Transport Strategy by reducing congestion and promoting walking and cycling.
For more information on all SEHRT schemes, please visit www.sehrt.org.uk