New Bus Route Begins
Tuesday 23 November 2010, 4:15PM
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From 5.00am that day, buses travelling between Lambton Quay and Courtenay Place will travel in both directions on Manners and Willis streets. It will no longer be possible to get on or off the bus in Dixon Street and the only buses that will continue to use Wakefield and Taranaki streets are buses that have always gone that way.
The new Manners Street bus stops are near Burger King and Arty Bees Books. The last of the street furniture and signs will be installed over the next few days. Wellington City Council's Infrastructure Director Stavros Michael is looking forward to seeing the last of the barriers removed and the city's original Golden Mile public transport route back in operation.
"It will mark the completion of the first phase of this major project and enable us to get on with second phase - revamping lower Cuba Street as a shared space where pedestrians will have priority."
Work in lower Cuba Street is expected to begin in January and be complete before Rugby World Cup 2011 in September.
The new Golden Mile bus route means changes for bus users, pedestrians, motorists and cyclists, so an information and safety campaign has begun.
"The main thing people need to remember is that buses will be coming in both directions on Willis and Manners streets now," Stavros says. "We're asking bus drivers to take particular care while people get used to the changes. Our advice to pedestrians would be to always use a safe crossing point but we are conscious people do jaywalk so we'll be installing signs along the route as a reminder to look both ways."
To help make the city safer, the 30 km/h speed limit is being extended from Sunday to coincide with the start of the new bus route. It will apply all the way from the bus interchange to the Embassy end of Courtenay Place.
There are other changes for motorists and cyclists too. You won't be able to enter lower Cuba Street from Wakefield Street any more - the flow of traffic is being reversed. There are also more bus-only lanes and time-related restrictions. For instance, the new busway through what was Manners Mall will be for buses only at all times. General traffic will be able to travel along Manners Street from Willis Street to Victoria Street at weekends and overnight (7.00pm to 6.00am) Monday to Friday. At other times, Manners Street will be bus-only in both directions between Willis and Victoria streets.
For more information about the project and changes, go to: