Barbican to Laira Bridge improvements

 

Work to improve walking and cycling links between the Barbican and Laira Rail Bridge will get under way on Monday 8 January.

The route, which forms part of the South West Coast Path and National Cycle Network route 27, will benefit from improved road crossings, new and improved footways and off-road cycle paths, on-road cycle lanes, cycle parking, better signage and new lighting.

Benches will be provided on Breakwater Hill so that people can stop to enjoy the spectacular views and vegetation will be cut back.

Construction will start around Clovelly Road and Teats Hill Road, with temporary traffic lights in operation until mid-February.

Improvements to the off-road walking and cycling route on Finnigan Road will follow, lasting for around six weeks (during which time sections of the footway and cycleway will be closed).

The southern end of Faraday Road will need to be closed for one night – yellow signs will be put out in advance to let people know when this is due to take place. Work is expected to finish by April.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Transport, Housing and Planning, said: “These proposals were very well received during consultation and l look forward to seeing the improvements delivered in plenty of time for the summer. They will make it easier and safer for people to walk and cycle between our beautiful waterfront and the east of the city.”

Repairs to the Sutton Harbour footbridge are currently being scoped out but it is hoped these works will be completed in the summer.

The Barbican to Laira Rail Bridge improvements will be fully funded through the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Transport Board and Section 106 developer contributions.

Further enhancements are planned between Cattedown Road and Finnigan Road, with consultation expected to take place in Summer 2018.

The scheme includes:

• Improved road crossings, new and improved footways and off-road cycle paths, on road cycle lanes, cycle parking, better signage and new lighting.
• Improvements will be made on a number of roads including Teats Hill Road, Clovelly Road, Finnigan Road and Faraday Road, as well as Breakwater Hill, where benches will be installed so that people can stop and rest while enjoying spectacular views over Plymouth Sound.  Bollards will also be installed on Breakwater Hill to ensure that no unauthorised vehicles can be driven onto the path but allow access for people using mobility scooters.
• A minor extension of the 20mph speed limit to include an additional length of Teats Hill Road, as well as Commercial Ope.

he expected construction programme is as follows:

•           Commercial Road/Teats Hill Road junction – traffic lights from 8 January to mid February and footway closure.

•           Finnigan Road – footpath closure from mid February to end of March.

•           Faraday Road junction – night closure 22 March.

•           National Marine Aquarium – only pedestrian barriers around working areas. Access for public maintained at all times. Mid to end of March.

•           Breakwater Hill (and other areas) – reduced width footpaths for street lighting works.  Dates to be confirmed; works will be completed before the end of March.

Updates to construction dates will be published on this webpage.  Our contractor, South West Highways will liaise with residents to minimise disruption.

In order to undertake these works safely, three-way traffic lights will be in operation, and lanes will be narrowed.  Please note that delays are possible whilst these works are in progress.

Part of the scheme is to undertake resurfacing works at the junction of Victoria Wharf and also the entrance to Mitchell and Webber on Clovelly Road.  We anticipate that this work will be undertaken at night to ease any disruption to the businesses in both locations whilst keeping noise to a minimum. In addition, the parking area outside Marine House will also be affected whilst some of the works are in progress. We will notify residents and businesses that will be affected as soon as dates and times of these works are confirmed.

We will endeavour to maintain access to your property or business at all times and keep any inconvenience to a minimum, although some interruption and reduced access may be unavoidable and for this we apologise in advance.  Please speak with our operatives, if you have concerns about access.

In partnership with Sutton Harbour Holdings and the Environment Agency, work to repair the lock bridge will continue in the hope that it can be reopened in the summer.

 

More detailed drawings on each section can be found here on the Plymouth City Council web site

The route of the path is shown in red

I am not a cyclist but love this section as a good walk. It would be nice if they could add a few pointers along the way to illustrate just how this industrial area of Plymouth has changed so much over the years.

See also previous posts on Plymothian Transit:

• Last train from Cattedown
• Cattedown gets a little less interesting
• Cattedown Tidied
• Cattewater Branch Line

Barbican Coach Improvements

More welcome investment in coach facilities in Plymouth:

Coach companies arriving at The Barbican will have easier access, thanks to improvement work due to start this week. Plymouth City Council has contracted South West Highways to start work on improvements to the facilities offered to coach services at this popular location.

Stage one to extend the bus stop near the Mayflower Steps, creating a new larger coach drop off area was completed earlier in the year. Now the existing Lambhay Hill coach parking triangle is to be reconfigured to allow three standalone coach parking bays.

The new ‘pay and display’ bays for coaches will allow coaches a maximum of two hours parking, ensuring coach space rotation, which, in turn, helps maximise the number of coaches able to use the spaces and bring more visitors to the waterfront and business to local traders.

The project includes some excavation and reconstruction of the highway in areas which need repair. It is estimated that the work will take up to six weeks.

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council and cabinet member for Strategic Housing, Transport and Planning, said:

“Many visitor coaches want to go straight to the Barbican to enjoy its shops, cobbled streets and pubs. We’ve worked closely with the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the coach industry representative body, on these changes and hope the new facilities will bring more here and keep the cash tills ringing.”

Sarah Gibson, Waterfront Manager and Chief Executive of the Plymouth Waterfront Partnership said: “Businesses across the Waterfront rely upon visiting coaches and the additional footfall they generate. We welcome the Council’s investment to provide additional provision for coaches in this area. From this location visitors can access the delights of The Barbican, Sutton Harbour and The Hoe on foot or Mount Batten, the Royal William Yard and South East Cornwall by ferry waterlinks.”

 

 

 

 

 

Where is the bus

This is the bus stop at the bottom of Keswick Crescent. It was taken at 11:07. I should not have been there at 11:07. The bus I am waiting for was due at 10:55. It actually came at 11:12. When there is only one bus an hour this is a long wait. It was a good job my plans were flexible. I was planning on taking advantage of Devon County Councils excellent network of Dartmoor services but at least one option was lost due to arriving in town so late. There was of course a Sunday Service today. Naturally yesterday was also a Sunday service. My young son and I caught buses yesterday - both on the 50A - both running nearly 15 mins late. It didnt help in that none of the bus stops around this part of the city have the 'realtime' displays. When (if) we get this then maybe it will help numb the pain of relying on the buses on a Sunday. We actually caught another 50A home from town this afternoon. It was due to leave at 16:05. At 16:05 the service dissappeared off the realtime display altogether and we feared the worst. It did arrive at 16:10 only 5 mins late. I can cope with that! It arrived at Keswick Crescent nearly 15 mins late. It was difficult to see where that extra 10 mins was lost as there were no real holdups anywhere. I can only assume that its a timetable issue in that the buses dont have enough time to cover the route?

Below is a picture of Plymouth Citybus serving the Plymouth Seafront. Well, I wish there was a bus in this picture. But there was no service to this area today. Sunday Service - which means no service. It was a pleasant day. A good day for a wander around the ever popular Barbican and Plymouth Hoe. It was actually really busy. I do find it amazing that there is no service down here on a Sunday.Plymouth proclaims to be proud of its maritime history. Just dont try to explore it on a Sunday or a Bank Holiday. Or if you do - bring your car.

Is there another City which seems to actively discourage tourism like Plymouth? There were plenty of coaches bringing tourists in to the Barbican today. Most of them would have had the pleasure of a visit to Bretonside Bus Station. Nice.

I did mention the excellent Dartmoor network built up by Devon County Council. The Sunday Rover ticket now covers the whole Stagecoach Devon network, quite a few smaller operators, and most of First Devon & Cornwall services in Devon. This now gives more people of Devon full access to the Moors on Sundays than ever before. Apart from the people of Plymouth - unless you are lucky enough to live on a First route then you dont have full access - unless you pay Citybus to take you to somewhere where you can access the network. I was going to mention that the Dartmoor network must be great for pensioners with their free travel. Then I remembered that Plymouth Pensioners are not allowed to leave the City anyway. They are only allowed to visit places in Plymouth. Still - at least they can catch a bus to Plymouth Hoe or the excellent Barbican - unless its a Sunday obviously.

Location Medical Services

Back on Monday evening we went for a walk around Plymouth Barbican as it was a lovely sunny evening and we fancied eating out. When we got to the Barbican we stumbled into the film set for a new episode of Casualty. We didn't really get much chance to look around but I did get this private ambulance on camera with its very appropriate registration number. There were also other ambulances on scene as part of the filming but I was unable to get close enough to film these myself.
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