A TOWN centre junction has been closed to buses and taxis as part of a year-long trial designed to give pedestrians more priority.
The government announced yesterday that motor traffic is no longer allowed to cross the King Street and New Street junction, except for bicycles and essential delivery vehicles between 8pm and 10am.
The change is part of the government’s push to make town safer and easier to navigate on foot.
According to the governemnt, a recent survey showed that during the busiest shopping hours (10:00 to 16:00), half the vehicles using the route were taxis and about 8% were buses.
By cutting access for those vehicles, the government says it wants to make the junction safer and less congested.
Talks with LibertyBus and the taxi industry are continuing, the government said, and work is underway to identify new taxi rank locations in town.
The existing rank at Library Place will remain.
Work is also being done with disabled minibus services and the Parish of St Helier to make sure people who need extra support can still get around.
The government added that the number of Blue Badge parking spaces in the area has been increased, and that work is ongoing to improve facilities.
A more detailed update on the work in New Street is expected next week.
