THE entrance to Liberation Station will be fitted with a height-restriction barrier and the paving realigned to stop double-decker buses hitting the overhanging building, as has happened three times in the past, if Planning agree.
The government’s Infrastructure Department has applied to make the changes so that the entrance to the bus station is safer for both bus passengers and staff.
Due to a combination of the building having a pointed overhang and driver error, double-decker buses have hit the high overhead on three occasions in the past decade.
The first collision happened in July 2015, which resulted in 12 people being injured. Similar crashes occurred in March 2019, when the bus had no passengers, and the latest accident was last February, when, again, the bus had only the driver onboard.
This week’s planning application involves realigning kerb lines so that the paved area extends beyond and around the overhang. It also proposes realigning the western side of the entrance which involves removing a bike rack and some bollards.
The proposed height restriction barrier, just before where buses enter the covered part of the station, will be just under 5m high and advise drivers that the maximum height is 4.2m.
The application states: “The proposal substantially reduces the risk of collision with the first-floor overhang, safeguarding passengers and staff. It decreases service disruptions caused by vehicle strikes and associated maintenance of the vehicle.
“The proposal also enhances the reliability and safety of bus travel in line with the broader sustainable transport policies.”
