Major changes to travel around Great Yarmouth introduced

Major changes to bus travel in Great Yarmouth are soon to be introduced as improvements to the Market Gates bus interchange near completion.

Funded through the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), Norfolk County Council started work in January to make bus journeys across the town quicker and more reliable, separate buses from general traffic and boost the local economy by enabling buses to travel in both directions through the interchange at the Market Gates shopping centre.

A number of new bus stops and crossing points have been created as part of the project and changes to traffic flows across neighbouring streets are now due to be implemented from Monday 19 May.

Councillor Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said: "Through our Bus Service Improvement Plan we're committed to improving bus services and sustainable transport facilities across the county. This project represents another major investment in Great Yarmouth which seeks to build on the fantastic progress we've already made with the low fare cap and a number of new and enhanced bus services introduced across the region, generating a 9.7% increase in passenger numbers this year, which is an extra 2.5 million journeys across the county."

"Herring Bridge has already made a massive difference to traffic flows around the town and these changes will capitalise on this shift to ensure our bus infrastructure is fit for purpose to support the future growth of the region with all of the wider investments currently being made.

"We thank residents and local businesses for their patience whilst works have been carried out and we can now look forward to the benefit they will bring".

In order to implement the new one way system, some parking restrictions will be in operation between Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May and the permanent changes to traffic flows take affect from Monday 19 May.

Further information on affected streets and what it means for deliveries, general traffic and bus passengers is available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/marketgates

Information regarding new bus stop locations has been placed on site and passengers are advised to visit www.travelnorfolk.co.uk/ or check with bus operators for further details.

Councillor Mike Smith-Clare, local member for the area said: "'It's always good to see the infrastructure of our town being improved, particularly in terms of accessible and efficient public transport. Great Yarmouth deserves the very best on all levels, and with a first class bus network we'll be moving a step further to achieving this aspiration."

This project is part of a series of improvements aimed at improving bus journey times and reliability of services across the public transport network.

Funding for the project is through the county council's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which was awarded nearly £50m from the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve bus services and infrastructure facilities throughout the county, including in Norwich, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth.