Mannamead Mayhem?

Another major traffic improvement scheme is about to start in Plymouth. Although in the long run this should improve traffic flow and help the buses, it will mean more delays while the work is underway…

The Mannamead Road Junction Improvement Scheme is set to get underway.

Modern and efficient signals will be installed at a number of junctions along the route with the aim of reducing traffic delays between Torr Lane and Mutley Plain, reducing journey times for motorists and improving service reliability for buses.

As well as replacing worn out and outdated traffic signals, the scheme will also address road safety with upgrades to pedestrian crossings and by providing better facilities for cyclists.

Work is due to begin on Wednesday 18 July and is expected to last for around five months.

Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure said: “This is a key road for people who are travelling into both the city centre and the district centre at Mutley Plain from the north and the A38. It is crucial to keep traffic flowing and support greener travel as Plymouth continues to grow.

“These improvements will reduce queueing, particularly during the morning and evening rush hours and make it safer and easier for people to walk and cycle along this busy road.”

As part of the scheme, the layout of the junction of Torr Lane and Mannamead Road will be improved and new Toucan pedestrian and cycle crossings provided. A new off-road shared pedestrian and cycle lane between Torr Lane and the Manadon junction will also be provided.

Meanwhile, 13 on-street parking spaces, which are currently restricting traffic flow on the approach to Mutley Plain, will be removed.

Eight replacement spaces will be provided, split between College Avenue and Connaught Avenue, while Mutley Barracks car park will be free for the first hour during the day and also from 8pm every night.

The main construction work will take place between 7.30am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, and on the occasional Saturday morning between 7.30am and 1pm.

Work will start at the Torr Lane junction before moving onto the junctions further south. However it should be noted that works will be taking place along the length of Mannamead Road (and in particular between Torr Lane and Seymour Road) throughout the construction period.

Whilst every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum whilst work is taking place, temporary three-way lights will be required at various locations throughout the construction period to allow the existing signals to be replaced. Every effort will be made to have only one set of temporary lights in operation at a time and they will be manually operated during busy times of day to minimise disruption.

The southbound bus lane from Russell Avenue to Torr Lane will be closed from late September for around one month. The northbound bus lane from Whiteford Road to Hartley Road will be closed from late August for around three months. It is expected that all bus stops on Mannamead Road will remain open throughout the works.

It will also be necessary to close the entrance and exit of Torr Lane, at its junction with Mannamead Road, between 9.30am and 3.30pm, for three days at the end of September. Suitable diversions will be in place during this closure.

Regular users of this route are advised to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey.

The scheme is estimated to cost around £1.7 million, with over £1 million being provided by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership.

It is part of a masterplan of highway improvements that will help unlock development and help deliver new jobs and homes in the north of the city, complementing other transport schemes along the Northern Corridor including the recently completed Outland Road Junction Improvement Scheme and Derriford Transport Scheme.

For more information on the scheme including traffic management, visit the Mannamead Road Junction Improvement Scheme page. In the event that the programme changes due to unforeseen circumstance, updates will be published there and on the Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

You can also sign up to receive the Council’s weekly roadworks roundup. Notices will also be placed on site in advance detailing any closure, restriction or diversion and will also be advertised in the local press.

The post Main work set to start on Mannamead Road junction improvements appeared first on Plymouth News Room.

 

 

Emergency Timetable 46A 46B

 

Plymouth Citybus make a very short notice change this week to one of the school services:

Due to ongoing reliability issues with the 46A/46B school services we are going to make an emergency amendment as from Monday 19th November 2017.

This is due to severe delays we are experiencing in the Derriford area. We are fully aware that this is unlikely to completely resolve the issue due to the roadwork's and unfortunately this will mean an earlier start for some of the students who use these services. But at this moment we have no choice but to make the services earlier to try and improve the reliability. 

 

46A 46B  Devonport High School - Tavistock  PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD PH0000135.154

• Licence: PH0000135.154
• Operator: PLYMOUTH CITYBUS LTD
• Address: MILEHOUSE ROAD, MILEHOUSE, PLYMOUTH, PL3 4AA, GB
• Route Number: 46A (46B)
• Start Point: Devonport High School
• Via: Milehouse -Yelverton, Whitchurch
• End Point: Tavistock
• Other Details: Morning journeys retimed
• Received: 16-Nov-17
• Effective: 27-Nov-17
• Accepted: 22-Nov-17
• End Date: 00-Jan-00
• Event Type: Variation applications
• N & P: 0
• 0
• Initial Published: DCT078
• Final Published: DCT078
• Plymouth Citybus Timetable (Web Site) (Sadly the new timetable is not yet on Traveline so I cant save a pdf in my archive yet.)

As Citybus mention this is all down tot he ongoing roadwork's at Derriford

The latest update on these is available here

 

 

 

 

 

More Derriford Misery

From the 24th July until the 11th September the section of gas main that runs along Derriford Road from the Hospital Helipad to the Science Park has to be replaced

The new four way traffic lights exiting the site near the Helipad will be turned off. Temporary traffic lights will be put in place.  These will be manually operated from 7am to 8pm to reduce the traffic congestion and ensure Blue Light Emergency Ambulances have constant access to ED. The exit from public car park B onto Derriford Road will be left turn only and for a period of 10 days in August will be closed with all those using the car park having to enter and exit via the same route. The works will be in 3 phases and attached are drawings showing the traffic restrictions that will be in place during each phase.

Phase One

This is clearly going to be the most painful as nothing will be able to turn right from Derriford Hospital. That's one long diversion up through The George

Phase Two

At least traffic will be back to both directions but this will get very busy at peak times so expect long delays

Phase Three

Slightly better than phase two!

The whole thing runs from 24th July to the 11st September, the only thing we don't know are the dates for each phase of the work.

 

If you are going to be traveling on one of these in the summer holidays, expect delays!

Derriford Developments

 

Work to upgrade Plymouth’s second busiest bus interchange will get under way this week.

The Derriford Hospital Interchange scheme, which has been developed in partnership with Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, will convert the existing one-way bus link through the hospital to allow buses to travel in both directions. It will also create separate taxi and passenger drop-off points and provide three additional bus stops.

As well as reducing congestion outside the main entrance and making bus journeys to and from the hospital quicker and more reliable, the scheme will provide better waiting areas for bus and taxi passengers and those getting dropped off or picked up by car.

It is estimated to cost just over £2 million, with £1.4 million being provided by the Heart-of-the-South-West Local Enterprise Partnership. The remaining funding will be provided by the Council and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The new interchange is part of a master plan of highway improvements that will help unlock development and deliver 9,000 new jobs and 3,000 new homes in the north of the city. Other schemes include the Derriford Transport Scheme which is due to start later this year, as well as the new Marjon Link Road, which opened in September 2015.

Preparations are being made this week to get the site ready for the main works, which are due to start on Monday 8 February. Construction will be carried out by the Council’s highways contractor Amey and is programmed to take nine months.

During that time access along the front of the hospital’s main entrance will be restricted to buses, Hackney Carriages and emergency vehicles.

All drop-off traffic will be re-directed to Car Park F, where facilities will be provided for anyone who needs assistance. Some sections of footpath will be closed during the works but alternative routes and crossing points will be provided.

Access for cyclists will be maintained throughout the works and all building entrances will remain open. All diversion routes will be clearly signed.

Access to Accident and Emergency will not be affected.

Disruption will be kept to a minimum but anyone travelling to Derriford Hospital is advised to plan ahead and add extra time to their journey.

Paul Barnard, the Council’s Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure, said: “The area outside Derriford Hospital is often congested, especially at peak time and this scheme should make a big difference to patients, staff and visitors.

“By providing extra space for buses and making this a two-way link we will not only improve service reliability for bus passengers, but also help to improve bus journey times and keep traffic moving along the whole northern corridor.

“The scheme will also provide much better, safer areas for people being picked up and dropped off at the hospital.”

Nick Thomas, Director of Planning and Site Services at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “This scheme is an important investment in the city’s infrastructure which will benefit people visiting our hospital and ease traffic flow more generally.

“We are working closely with Plymouth City Council and other interested parties, to ensure developments on site are in the interests of our patients, visitors and staff.

“While the improvements are being carried out we realise there will be some disruption so we apologise in advance and ask everyone to be patient.”

Background

The bus interchange at Derriford Hospital is the second busiest in the city. The Derriford Hospital Interchange scheme will convert the existing one-way bus link through the hospital to allow buses to travel in both directions. It will also create separate taxi and passenger drop-off points and provide three additional bus stops.

The scheme will reduce congestion outside the main entrance and make bus journeys to and from the hospital quicker and more reliable. The waiting areas for bus and taxi passengers and those getting dropped off or picked up by car will also be improved.

The total cost of the scheme is estimated at just over £2 million. The Heart-of-the-South-West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP) – the body responsible for allocating funding for large-scale transport schemes across Plymouth. Devon, Torbay and Somerset – has recognised the regional importance of the scheme and has awarded £1.4 million towards delivery from its Growth Fund. The remaining funding will be provided by the Council and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Derriford Hospital Interchange scheme is part of a master plan of highway improvements that will help to unlock development and deliver 9,000 new jobs and 3,000 new homes in the north of the city.Other schemes include the Derriford Transport Scheme which is due to start later this year, as well as the new Marjon Link Road, which opened in September 2015.

Planning Permission

Planning permission for the Derriford Hospital Interchange scheme was granted in January 2016. The application number is 15/02189/FUL and all of the documents can be viewed on the planning online page.

Traffic Management

The works will involve a complicated traffic management plan which will ultimately mean that only Buses and Ambulances will be allowed to travel passed the main entrance during these works, all other traffic will be stopped.   Below is a summary of what the traffic management arrangements will mean for staff, patients and visitors.

· Only Buses, Emergency Vehicles and Patient Transport will be allowed to drive passed the main entrance for 9 months.  The contractor will have a manned barrier in operation preventing access to all but authorised vehicles.

· All drop off and pick up for the main entrance will be via Car Park F (new car park next to main outpatients).  Car Park F offers free parking for the first hour.

· A temporary welcome and mobility centre will be located in car park F.  This will consist of a manned port-a-cabin, welcome area with seating etc where members of the public can wait to be collected.  In addition patients and visitors can wait here while relatives park the car and return to escort them into the Hospital.  Alternatively patients or visitors with limited mobility can wait here to be given a lift via a mobility (golf type) buggy to and from the main entrance, if they feel it is too far to walk.  This will be a free courtesy service for the duration of the works.

· There will be no motorcycle parking outside the main entrance during these works.  Motorcycle parking is available in two marked areas within car park F as well as car park B, C, MSCP and near Maternity.

· Car Park public A has been reversed.  Access is now via the mini roundabout off Derriford Road.  When cars exit A they will only be able to turn left back out onto Derriford Road and not use car park A to cut through the site.

· Staff Car Parks C & D - Staff who leave via staff car park C will have to exit the site via the Marjons traffic lights.  Staff who leave via car park D will have the option of leaving via Morlaix Drive or the mini roundabout.  Staff will not be able to drive in front of the main entrance to get from one side of the site to the other.  Staff who exit the MSCP or NWQ will be unaffected.

· Patients who drop off/collect specimens, commodes etc from the main entrance will have to park in car park F and walk to the main entrance. 

· Buses will drop off in the current location outside Plym.  However the current bus stops will be closed.  Instead temporary bus stops will be in position nearer to the Hospital building.

· During all works pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.

· New signage will be place both on Derriford Road and on site to direct patients and visitors.

As with any chnage in traffic management at or near Derriford Hospital the first few days at least are likely to be chaotic so expect delays. If you can avoid the ear then do so - sadly not an option for those who work there!