Construction of the first phase of the A638 Quality Bus Corridor (QBC) is now complete. This is the stretch of the bus corridor along Bawtry Road between Stoops Lane and Cantley Lane.
This section of the A638 QBC will open on 10 March 2008.
Whilst these changes will have benefits for road users, especially welcome is the introduction of nine new state-of-the-art buses being provided by First. These buses are launched in conjunction with this section of the corridor.
Other key features of the Bawtry Road 24 hour bus lane include:
Three new pedestrian crossings along Bawtry Road close to the junctions with Alston Road, Boswell Road and Ellers Road.
- New street lighting
- Refurbished traffic signals at Cantley Lights and
- Church Lane/Stoops Lane
- Refurbished pelican crossing at the Avenue
- Improved bus stops featuring:
- new shelters with improved lighting and seating to make waiting for the bus much safer and more comfortable
- textured paving to help people with visual impairments
- litter bins to help keep the surrounding area tidy
- raised kerbs allowing people with mobility problems, or pushchairs, much easier access on and off the bus
- improved timetable information to keep you better informed
- planned ‘RealTime’ bus information at selected stops and the ‘YourNextBus’ service at all stops
- bus stop ‘clearways’ at all stops which prevent parking at all bus stops so that buses can pull right up to the kerb.
o relocated bus stops at the junctions with Stoops Lane and Boswell Road.
- Bawtry Road fully re-surfaced between Church Lane/Stoops Lane and St. Augustine’s Road
- Bridge strengthening and maintenance works at Cantley Lights.
Although the main stages of work along Bawtry Road have now been completed, please note that finishing touches are still being made to verges and footways at various places along the route.
Elsewhere on the A638 QBC, works are progressing well. The construction of the bus corridor along York Road is well underway, while both Park and Ride sites are quickly taking shape to allow the service to be introduced in the late summer.
David Young, Head of Transport Integration at SYPTE, said: “I am delighted to see the first phase of this major scheme opening and starting to bring benefits to the people of Doncaster. When the scheme is fully completed there will be a noticeable improvement in the reliability of existing bus services along the route and also a dedicated express Park & Ride service into the town.”
For more information please contact Martin Nield, Communications Manager, SYPTE, on 0114 221 1339 or martinn@sypte.co.uk
A full media briefing is also in production and will be available within the next week.
About the A638 Quality Bus Corridor:
The A638 QBC is a partnership between SYPTE, Doncaster Council and Doncaster’s bus operators. The scheme includes improvements to the highway, sections of 24 hour inbound bus lane, new bus facilities, new signalised pedestrian crossing facilities, street lighting, and Park and Ride sites north and south of the town centre.
The A638 QBC project is a partnership between South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE), Doncaster Council and the local bus operators in Doncaster.
It extends both north and south of Doncaster town centre; along York Road, from Green Lane to the North Bridge, and in the south along Bawtry Road from Racecourse Roundabout to Parrots Corner.
In December 2006 the Department for Transport agreed to provide significant funding of £15.3 million for the infrastructure works and local bus operators will be making major investment in their bus fleets. Construction work has now started on four of the five phases and work is due to start on the fifth phase later this year.
The scheme is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
For more information about the A638 QBC visit www.A638QBC.co.uk or call the information line on 0845 300 8830 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).