Roads review looks at traffic pinch points

Roads review looks at traffic pinch points

And altering the traffic flow to provide eastbound buses with direct access to the Tunnel from the bus station at peak times could also improve punctuality.

However, Kevin Hart explained the ideas might not be possible and said that adding an extra lane at Beaumont would have to involve buying land using powers of compulsory purchase.

‘Putting a bus lane through Beaumont would be fantastic; it is probably the worst pinch point we have in Jersey,’ he said.

‘Parts of it have probably got a bit of room, but it would involve a lot of compulsory purchase of land and a lot of money. Land does not come cheap over here.’

Mr Hart added that in his hometown of Cardiff, one of the main roads into the city featured a third lane which could be allocated to inbound traffic during the morning rush hour and outbound traffic during the evening rush hour.

He said a similar system could be implemented to speed up traffic around Beaumont.

‘The filter-in-turn works very well, but a third lane, which is not necessarily a bus lane, could also be beneficial,’ he said.

‘All you would need to do is prioritise the flow of the traffic at the right peaks and you could have some overhead signage that tells people when that third lane is in operation. One of their [Cardiff’s] main roads into the city centre has a third lane. At peak times it just prioritises the flow of whichever lane needs it [more capacity].’

Currently, any buses leaving Liberation Station to enter the Tunnel must first travel along the Esplanade and up Castle Street, with many vehicles often becoming stuck in rush-hour traffic.

Mr Hart said that if the road layout was altered to allow eastbound buses to head straight into the Tunnel from the station, it could shave minutes from journey times.

‘It has been looked at in front of the Pomme d’Or Hotel to give opposite flow to buses and taxis,’ he said.

‘So in theory buses would come out of the station, turn right and be able to head straight into the Tunnel.

‘The stretch of road heading up to the roundabout on Castle Street clogs up and that causes delays, so if we could bypass [that area] that would be great.’

Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis said that altering traffic systems at Beaumont and the Esplanade risked making traffic problems worse.

‘It has been looked at in the past but the issue is finding space without disrupting the flow of regular traffic,’ he said.

‘It would be difficult, but both areas are currently under review and are being looked at.’

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