Summary
- Where: Lodge Road and Portswood Road Junction
- What: The scheme will upgrade the signalised junction of Lodge Road / Portswood Road / Bevois Hill to provide a safer pedestrian crossing and cycle facilities and improve the signal technology
- When: Summer 2024
- Why: To support sustainable travel and improve traffic flows at key junctions
- How: Funded by the Government from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund.
(click to expand)
The map above illustrates all the proposed improvements to this junction which include:
- A green man crossing with countdown timers so pedestrians know how long they have to cross.
- New drop kerbs, audible crossing sounds and new surfaces which will benefit people with mobility and vision issues.
- A new cycle green light to cross the junction safely segregated from vehicles, reducing the crash potential between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
- New traffic signal which prioritises buses at the junction.
- Upgraded traffic signal technology - the traffic signals will be more efficient and responsive to the levels of traffic at different times of the day.
- New bus stop bypass will be provided at the Forster Road bus stop to allow people who choose to cycle a safe way to move around buses at the stop.
In November/December 2023 we asked for your views on the scheme via a survey.
44% of respondents said they currently feel not so safe or not at all safe at this junction. Of the people who mainly walk, cycle or bus across this junction, only 12% responded that they feel extremely safe or very safe.
The measures that people would most like to see at this junction are:
- Intelligent traffic signal upgrade (63%)
- Segregated lanes between car drivers and cyclists (59%)
- Countdown accessible timers and audible pedestrian crossings (58%)
With the proposed improvements implemented:
- 61% of respondents said they would be more likely to walk in the area
- 47% of respondents said they would be more likely to cycle in the area
- 40% of respondents said they would catch the bus more
The detailed design is now being developed, with the next update to be published in Spring 2024.