A 9-week partial closure of the Esplanade at Ryde is to begin this week, as the final phase of the controversial interchange scheme gets underway.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the final phase was scheduled to begin yesterday (Monday) but it is now expected that the road closures, that will last until the end of May, will come into force imminently.
The partial closure is to create a new junction between the Esplanade and George Street. The main purpose of this new, traffic light-controlled junction is to allow buses to go directly up George Street rather than having to travel along the Esplanade and double back at the Dover Street junction to exit the town – as they have done for decades.
The paving on the north side of the new bus-only road is now substantially complete and is partially open for pedestrians.
The scheme, which began in April 2022, was originally set to be completed by Spring 2023 with Island Roads publicising a date of 31st March. However, the scheme will now overrun by two months.
To allow the works to be undertaken safely, the following traffic management measures will need to be put into place:
- Esplanade, Ryde – the southern carriageway between Dover Street and Union Street will be closed in a westerly direction. Vehicles will be diverted via Dover Street, Melville Street, Cross Street and Union Street.
- George Street, Ryde – the northern (bottom) section of George Street, between Esplanade and Castle Street, will be closed and the section of George Street between Melville Street and Castle Street will become 2-way to provide access to residents and businesses.
- Melville Street, Ryde – will become one-way in a westerly direction from Dover Street to George Street.
- Deliveries for businesses between George Street and Dover Street can park on the north side of Esplanade at the rear of the temporary bus stand and cross at the adjacent zebra crossing.
- Deliveries for businesses between Union Street & George Street will be able to do so via a temporary loading bay accessible from the northern side of Esplanade.
Give them a big fat bonus for being done and completely gone in 5 weeks. Could work wonders.
Actually the reverse, build in huge penalties if they are not finished on time, then the two men and a dog who mae up the workforce might actually get some work done instead of sitting in their vans all day.
you will find the workforce ?, in the Ryde Castle, where the majority of them seem to spend most of there time between 0900-10.30 on a daily basis, surprised they haven’t worked weekends either to advance the project ?
Where’s the new bus station and new glass train station?
Buses are for poor people. The more buses, the more poor people. Simples.
We should stop all buses, then the poors would either have to get rich enough to buy cars and sit in traffic like the rust of us. Or get off our island. Our island is for cars only! Cars are freedom! Cars are joy! Cars are our saviour!
What about people who need to travel to school? What about elderly people? What about disabled people? What about people who can’t drive and can’t get a lift for whatever reason? Your comment is so ignorant and besides, buses are much better for the environment.
Already it is a sick joke, the much vaunted “cycle path” is still barriered off months after it was completed, the new pier entrance has two massive speed humps to slow cars who have literally just come off the roundabout and the exit is a pointless chicane which forces traffic to make a 90 degree turn onto the esplanade instead of filtering in, the path / refuge in the middle of the carriageway at the bowling alley has been removed and kerbs put which prevent wheelchairs having safe access.
All the quicker to move on and fix the next thing that isn’t broken.
To be fair, the old bus station was an eyesore and did need replacing. However, the new stands look rather small given the number of people who use them at some times throughout the year. Many will be standing in the rain.
yes with a queue of buses, whilst drivers off for a smoke…
Can’t see the pier exit working too well. It comes out next to the pedestrian lights, meaning traffic leaving the pier will be held up all the time. If the exit was the other side of the lights, traffic could clear the pier whilst the lights are red. Plus, some may just look right leaving the pier and set off against a red light when pedestrians are crossing. An accident waiting to happen.
Hopefully they will PROPERLY repair the road on George St, by Castle st junction… it is bad enough in a car.. if they are going to have buses going up , the road will collapse again…
Also the exit lane from the pier should be curved more to the traffic flow where it joins the Esplanade.. to stop motorists from turning right and shooting up St Thomass’ !!! I have already watched two cars turn right… looks like a great place for nasty accident..