A £1.6 million project to allow westbound buses to drive along the Esplanade instead of around the Castle Street roundabout has received a mixed response from Islanders.
The new ‘bus gate’ opened yesterday at the corner of La Route de la Liberation and Gloucester Street.
The government said the transport scheme will “deliver more reliable and predictable journeys, reduced delays and improved waiting facilities for bus passengers”.
LibertyBus director Kevin Hart said: “The completion of the Western Bus Gate is excellent news for bus passengers. Anyone who regularly travels through this area will know that it can be a significant pinch point, particularly during peak periods.
“The improved infrastructure and revised traffic signal phasing will help buses move through the junction more effectively, reducing delays and improving the reliability of services travelling west from St Helier.”
The refurbishment also saw the addition of disability-compliant paving, additional cycle parking, new seating and landscaping, and new trees in the surrounding area.
Express headed down to the area to hear what Islanders had to say about the tranformation…
Alfie Atterbury said: “My question is what is the benefit of having this run. I can understand this area being used for more bike parking and space, but this bus lane is a bit too far.”
Kyah Gibaut and Eve Smith commented: “We love the seating and green area, but the bus lane is not really needed.
“We appreciate the spend into public space and it is definitely a plus for some people, but it could have been just a pedestrian area.”
Mohsin Hafiz said: “Good initiative to help, but better things could have been achieved with the money in a more meaningful way.
“They should have prioritised building a bigger car park as I doubt Islanders are going to use public transport more because of this.”
James Le Lievre and Kurt Loosemore noted: “We’ve already got one [bus stop] over there [at La Frégate].
“It looks nice and I like how they are investing, as it was just a waste of space.”
Emma Schroder and Matilda Ward said the development had improved the area around office buildings, but added: “It should have been purely a nice pedestrian area, a space to sit and enjoy. The bus lane is probably a waste of money.”
Karen Wray said: “I’m sure planning have done research, we have just all got to give it a go.”
Express trialled the new Western Bus Gate route. It took two minutes and 45 seconds for the bus to get from Liberation Station to La Frégate bus stop.
