THE NEW bus lanes on Lode Lane are complete.
Work on the Lode Lane Enhancement Scheme began in August 2015 in a bid to create a dedicated bus lane along three sections of Lode Lane as well as improvements to street lighting and for pedestrians and cyclists.
Initial monitoring of buses travelling along Lode Lane shows that an eight minute journey time saving between Jaguar Land Rover and Solihull Town Centre has been achieved during the morning peak hour.
This will benefit almost 1,700 passengers who catch buses into Solihull Town Centre on this route every morning.
The project has seen a £6.75 million investment in the route between Solihull town centre, Jaguar Land Rover and North Solihull, contributing to the delivery of the UK Central (UKC) programme which aims to promote and encourage growth in the region and improve transport connectivity.
The scheme has also included improvements to pedestrian and cycling facilities, including the introduction of an off-carriageway, shared-use cycle lane between the A45 Coventry Road and Solihull town centre.
All traffic lights have been upgraded along the route, including new pedestrian crossing facilities to make crossing safer.
All carriageways and footways along the route have also been resurfaced.
The three stretches of bus lane, in the direction of Solihull town centre only (southbound), are located between the canal bridge and the junction with Rowood Drive, between Moat Lane and Hermitage Road, and between the junction with Grove Road and Poplar Road.
In the town centre, the bus and cycle-only lane now connects Lode Lane with the previously no-through road between Radcliffe House and Brueton Gardens, thereby removing incoming buses from the busy Lode Lane/Warwick Road roundabout.
The bus lanes are indicated by a thick white line on the road and will be in operation 24 hours a day.
Other vehicles permitted to use the lane are licensed taxis, bicycles and motorcycles.
Motorists found to be using the bus lane when not permitted face being issued with a Penalty Charge Notice and are reminded that this can delay buses and cause congestion.
Councillor Ted Richards, cabinet member for Transport and Highways said: “The scheme demonstrates Solihull Council’s commitment to promoting sustainable travel, supporting the town centre business economy and improving road safety.
“The scheme is also in line with the development of the UK Central programme, with provision of bus priority on Lode Lane being a crucial link to connecting the key economic zones in our borough.”
