A city bus firm was forced to divert five of its services away from a bus-only area of Preston which is supposed to speed up services.
Preston Bus re-routed the 23,31,35,43 and 46 routes on Thursday afternoon due to ‘congestion along Corporation Street’. Buses were sent down Walker Street and North Road to reach the Bus Station.
On Tuesday 21 May a ‘bus-gate’ was introduced to a short stretch of Corporation Street running from Heatley Street to Marsh Lane in both directions.
Read more: Corporation Street bus gate blasted by nearby family-run business
Ahead of the bus gate being introduced bus firms lined up to say the new bus-only lane would ‘improve reliability’.
Drivers reported long delays in Corporation Street on Thursday afternoon with one saying ‘ridiculous traffic light priorities at the junction with the ring road’ were partly to blame.
The Corporation Street bus gate is currently enforced by cameras and signs but only warning letters are sent to drivers who go through during a grace period which is in operation.
On the day of operation the Lancashire Post showed pictures of dozens of motorists driving through the bus gate. The stretch of road is only meant to be used by buses, Hackney-carriage taxis and cyclists.
As well as the bus gate a range of new one-way streets and road changes have been put in place around Corporation Street.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council said: “We are aware that a large number of drivers are continuing to drive through the new bus-only section in Corporation Street, Preston, which is contributing to significant congestion in the area.
“Enforcement has started and fines will be coming soon to deter drivers from using this section when they shouldn’t. Signage is clearly displayed on Corporation Street and some approaching streets to warn drivers of the bus gate.
“This week we have added new digital signs to complement the fixed signage currently in place in this area. We are listening to feedback from the public and we will continue to monitor the situation.
“A bedding in period is normal for this type of scheme and we expect things to settle down as people get used the changes.
“Please follow the signs and familiarise yourself with the changes to avoid being fined in future.”
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