Work to start on new crossing in Exeter Street

Drivers coming into the city centre via Exeter Street could face some delays as work starts on a new crossing.

Contractors working on the British Land leisure complex will be digging up the road in order to install ducts beneath the surface to house cabling for the new pedestrian crossing.

A traffic order is being published today for the work which gets underway on 13 August. It is expected to run until 10 September.

The new crossing replaces the old subway to what was the Bretonside bus station. It has been filled in and will become part of the underground car park for the multi-million development.

The crossing work is being carried out in phases and will involve removing a bus shelter next to Primark, constructing a new pedestrian crossing, associated granite kerbing and paving and new traffic signalling.

Two lanes will remain open outbound with the bus lane available for all traffic.

On the north side of the Viaduct, stops B3 and B4 between the service road and the Charles Cross roundabout will be taken out of use.

The shelter on stop B3 will remain in situ but the services currently using B3 will be relocated to a temporary stop outside Casino Slots. These are services 19, 20,20A, 21,21A, 23, 24, X38, 51, 51A, 59 and GOLD

The shelter on stop B4 will be removed permanently and services relocated to Stop C3 on Charles Street (the last shelter past the entrance to Drake Circus Mall). These are services 8,9, 27, 27A, 27B, 28, 28A and 28B

Information will be posted on the shelters affected to let people know.

Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet member for Street Scene and the Environment said: “The work has been deliberately timed to avoid the busiest times of the summer season such as MTV and the fireworks when we know traffic coming into the city centre is heavier.

“Drivers – and pedestrians – have been very patient while this work continues. We are doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum.”

A 20 mph speed restriction is also being introduced.