The trial of the part-time bus/taxi/cycle-only section of Portswood Road, Active Travel Zones and 20mph signage in neighbouring streets began on Monday 27 January 2025 and will continue for at least six months.
The part-time bus/taxi/cycle-only section of Portswood Road is located between St Denys Road spur and Westridge Road and the restriction will apply Monday to Saturday at peak times; between 7am and 10am in the morning and between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Access will be maintained northbound through the bus gate for large vehicles over 7.5t, with a new loading bay on St Denys Road spur.
While the restriction is in operation only authorised vehicles are allowed, including:
- Buses
- Taxis (Taxis that are not locally licenced by Southampton City Council cannot use the bus gate - 09:30 - 10:00 and 18:30 - 19:00).
- Cyclists, legal E-scooters and E-bikes (not motorcycles/mopeds)
- Emergency vehicles
- Any other service vehicle, carrying out a statutory duty e.g. gritting, refuse collection, that cannot use another route for their purpose and require constant use of the vehicle.
The scheme is also introducing the following improvements, which have the option to be retained after the trial is complete:
- New, larger bus shelters
- Two new parklets; offering seating, planting and cycle parking
- Contraflow cycle lane on St Denys Road spur
- 20-mph limit for the area
- New buildouts with cycle bypasses on Brookvale Road and Belmont Road
- Traffic filter on Russell Place at its junction with Abbotts Way
The map below shows the new restrictions, and access routes by car for the wider area.
As part of the trial, the level of achievement of each of the following objectives for the Portswood Project will be measured:
- To regenerate and make Portswood District Centre a more attractive, accessible, vibrant and competitive economic destination so people spend more time and money here;
- To improve the air quality, environment and biodiversity;
- To provide more space for people walking and wheeling with improved connectivity and road safety;
- To improve the choices of transport modes for people to use;
- To improve bus reliability and journey times and create better bus stops;
- To enhance quality of life for all who live, work or shop in the area;
- To reduce the amount of through route traffic on local roads;
- To reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
These will be assessed by an independent consultant in the 3-month and 6-month reports. A series of different data including traffic and movement, economic, community and contextual data will be collected at key points before and during the trial, and after the trial should the scheme be made permanent. A baseline report has already been produced which provides the pre-trial data. The report is available to view here. During the trial, a monthly interim assessment will also be undertaken utilising readily available traffic data and made available to the public.
We plan to continue working with local residents’ associations, retailers, traders and other representatives from the community through the Portswood Project Steering Group to monitor the implementation, progress and outcome of the trial.
The impact of all measures cannot be fully known in advance, so delivering the scheme initially as a trial allows this to be tested. Depending on the results, measures could be removed, amended or added if required. As with any new scheme, there are likely to be traffic flow changes throughout the first days, weeks and months as people get used to the new measures and adjust their travel habits.
If you would like to record any comments as part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) consultation, please complete the form at transport.southampton.gov.uk/tro.