The scheme to improve Ryde’s transport interchange has reached an important milestone today (Tuesday), with Southern Vectis buses now able to use the new station.
The bus station area has been extensively remodelled as part of the interchange project which is designed to provide better travel connectivity as well as much-improved public space for residents and visitors.
The scheme is primarily funded by a Government grant from the Transforming Cities Fund following a successful bid by the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council (together as South East Hampshire Rapid Transport) for £55.6m million.
Around £10 million of this has been awarded for the Ryde Transport Interchange improvements.
Improvements to the bus station will create a better environment for bus users and pedestrians making it easier and safer for vehicles to manoeuvre in and around the station.
The new design means buses will no longer have to reverse out of their bays and when the scheme completes next month, they will be able to exit the station via George Street, operating more efficiently as they will not have to leave the town via Dover Street roundabout.
Services will now no longer use the temporary bus facility, although the area on the southern side of the Esplanade will be retained for possible use by not-in-service vehicles until the scheme is complete.
Stand C will be the route 9’s temporary home until the remaining works are complete’ whilst the taxi rank will move to its new permanent location next to the Rose Gardens.
All the work is being undertaken by Island Roads on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport, said:
“I am pleased the project is really starting to take shape and as we enter the final phases I think people can now really see the improvements it will deliver not just for travellers but for all who use and enjoy the Esplanade.”
All well and good until Wightfibre want to dig up the new paving
We have swapped a public space with a cafe, toliets access to the beach and sea views with a public space with views of a bus station and it only cost 10 million.
The new exit from the pier on a blind bend with a pelican crosding thrown in is a master stroke.At least the buses will not have to reverse out of thier bays and drive around the esplande now.We can all watch them sat at a red light while the ambulance picks up yet anthor victim of the new pier exit..well done
What cretin designed this, speed humps to and from the pier and the exit road from the pier made dangerous by forcing traffic to exit on a blind bend and very close to the pedestrian crossing
That’s good news, will make it far easier for me to get to the IW domino league games at The King Ludd on a Wednesday now.
Pizza and beer? That sounds like a plan.
The Interchange is now very dangerous unlike before.
It is an accident waiting to happen.
Whoever agreed such a layout must have been p@ssed at the time
or they have shares in Insurance companies.
Must be expensive flagstones. £10 million?
Looks like a very cheap version of the original plans
Is it just me, or is anybody wondering why they put in speed bumps? how fast can a bus get from a standing start.
What an utter disgrace. This council has wasted thousands on this scheme and all the shelter and seating they can provide for waiting passengers is those poxy little bus shelters which don’t come right down to the ground and allow a huricane to freeze your legs off when it is windy, which is often down there. They don’t even provide raised curbs so you have to step up onto the bus or waite for the driver to lower the ramp. Where are buses going to wait when they have been delayed by traffic and arrive just before the other bus has left. Obviously haven’t learnt from the fiasco which is Newport Bus station.
I’m surprised they didn’t put in the raised kerbs which they have done at many bus stops. The exit from the pier for cars is right on top of the crossing on the bend and I’ve seen a car wanting to go up the pier overtake and cut in front of the cars queuing and speed onto the pier.
Now come on , let’s be totally honest and understanding, our Council have a degree in wasting our money !!!!!
How else would they spend their days if they couldn’t waste time and our money?????
Ooh arguing/ bickering about transparency!!!! Ooh yes that’s it our honest councillors are very transparent, well at least we can see through them …
We’ll see how it goes, at least they have got rid of the nauseous lime green paintwork. Now they need to stop the smoking there and have proper bins.
So if the council pay for a private company to have a new station built, will they pay for my new drive?
Doh silly me, forgot, we live in a dictatorship. I better not say too much bad about the council else the will have me arrested when I lock my bike against the bike stand. Because that is now against the law. Putin maybe loosing in Ukraine, but he’s won in the UK.
This article keep mentioning the word improvement repeatedly.
There seems to be a massive discrepancy between reporting and reality.
I don’t hear too many people agreeing that it’s an improvement at all.
It is a terrible design.the Worst Ryde as ever looked.
IW Council are clueless, what a complete waste of money in
such tough economic times.
They could have saved the money and gave everyone a Council Tax
reduction.
What’s the betting the greedy B’stards will raise our council tax next year
Enough is Enough So on we will be paying £3,000.00 a year Council Tax!.
Anybody know where the new public conveniences are
Or do we just cross our legs and pray
Just wandering when the new toilets, ticket office & cafe will open?
I am led to understand that the bus drivers, when needing a visit to the loo, have to use the portables down the road or go to the arcade across the road. As for the public, sod ’em. In both cases, totally unacceptable.
Councillor Jordan needs to go to Specsavers, he is obviously seeing
something I ain’t seeing and I have good eyesight.
How long before this Interchange will be changed again.
It is an accident waiting to happen, vehicles coming off the Pier is a crazy set up.
Just used it. What an utter farce. Sack the Council and all responsible for this misappropriation of public funds. You are a total disgrace.
Ryde has in the last 20 years been given millions of pounds of tax payers money from govt ,and the person who signed off on this has obviously never visited the Isle of Wight ,and shame on the Isle of Wight council for agreeing to this .What a total waste of money
For Island roads to change 1 street light head takes 1 lorry, 2 vans and 7 workers, no wonder nothing gets done on time here
Another complete waste of money Well done IWCC