Eight weeks of disruption expected for city centre road works

Next week Southern Water embarks on eight weeks of road improvements on one of the city’s busiest bus routes.

The water company is hoping to repair the damage caused by the replacement of Victorian water mains in 2007 – which has left North Street unable to cope with the heavy volume of traffic. In 2015 Brighton and Hove Buses refused to send its vehicles down the road because of the damage to the surface.

Around 100 buses an hour currently use North Street. Once the improvement works begin on Monday 18th September, buses will be unable to serve the route for eight weeks.

The work includes resurfacing the road from the Clock Tower to just before the East Street roundabout. Although Southern Water has promised to attempt to minimise disruption, buses will be diverted as a result of the work.

The bus company has released its diversion plans. Buses travelling eastbound will go around North Street via West Street and the coast road. They will either continue along the coast road or pick up its normal route via the Old Steine. Buses travelling Westbound will do the same in reverse.

The North Street improvements come at a time when work is already being carried out on other parts of the city. Brighton and Hove City Council are working to improve safety at the junction between Lewes Road, Elm Grove and Union Road. This work began at the end of August and is expected to last a few months.

Brighton and Hove Buses managing director Martin Harris has welcomed the “important improvements to the smooth-running of traffic in the city” but admits that the coinciding of the two works is extremely unfortunate for bus users.

North Street bus stops will display suspension notices and the real-time information boards will point customers to their nearest stops. The information point at Churchill Square will be staffed as well as staff members being around North Street. They have promised to closely monitor the traffic situation at the junction of Elm Grove and Lewes Road.

For more information about the works, visit: www.southernwater.co.uk/northstreet

For information about the bus services, contact Brighton and Hove Buses Customer Services Unit: info@buses.co.uk or call 01273 886200

By Clare Calder