Scartho Road bus lane to be permanently axed
REMOVAL ‘WILL SEE IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW’
THE removal of the Scartho Road bus lane will be made permanent. A trial period over the last year found that journey times on the road were improved and traffic flow increased when the bus lane wasn’t in operation.
The lane was initially removed in December 2019, and now traffic data and lack of formal objections has convinced North East Lincolnshire Council to do away with it for good.
A permanent Traffic Regulation Order has been approved by the cabinet’s portfolio holder for transport, Councillor Stewart Swinburn, to make the change official.
The experimental traffic regulation order saw an improvement in traffic flow on the main road, particularly during peak times.
Bus services will be aided by a new Traffic Signal Priority that has been completed at the junction of Scartho Road, Forsythia Drive and Cragston Avenue.
Buses that are running late during peak times will be given a green light under certain circumstances.
It’s hoped that this will mitigate any impact on times from removing the bus lane.
Councillor Stewart Swinburn, North East Lincolnshire Council’s portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: “We’re making this removal permanent following a thorough review of the data over the course of the last year and after receiving no formal objections. “Residents and ward councillors have expressed concerns about the impact the bus lane had previously on traffic congestion and journey times.
“I was committed to addressing this issue, working with our highway officials at Engie, and we have been able to trial the removal through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order and see in real terms the impact the removal has.
“The impact of Covid-19 has been considered in this decision and we are confident that the removal will see improved traffic flow and better journey times, once traffic levels increase.
“We have considered the impact on local public transport services and have also introduced a traffic signal priority system to ensure bus services can keep to their timetables as much as possible during peak times.”
The new Traffic Regulation Order will come into force over the next few weeks.