New bus lane will shorten travel times

Devon County Council is starting work on a new contraflow bus lane in Exeter city centre on Monday (June 24).

The work will require some night-time road closures and once completed will improve bus journey times in the city.

The New North Road scheme follows a consultation last summer and was approved at Cabinet in October 2023.

It’s one of a number of improvements the local authority is delivering to bus services across the county detailed in its Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The new contraflow bus lane will be constructed on New North Road between John Lewis and Waterstones in Exeter City Centre. The existing contraflow cycle lane will be widened to accommodate buses.

The new bus lane will create a cut through for buses travelling along New North Road directly onto Sidwell Street. Buses will therefore avoid the longer indirect route along Longbrook Street and York Road.

The new route will be 0.5km shorter and more direct, reducing journey times and the contraflow bus lane can be used by buses, bicycles and emergency vehicles. The work will take approximately three weeks to complete.

There will be two weeks of nighttime closures, between 7pm and 6am, from Monday June 24 to the Friday June 28 and from Monday July 8 to Friday July 12.

The other works will be undertaken under a cycle lane closure, which will be in place for the duration of the scheme between Monday June 24 and Friday July 12. 

For more information go to the Devon County Council website.