More bus priority measures are being introduced on Victoria Road to improve bus journey times and service reliability between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
Bus priority measures include the development of AM and PM red bus lanes. AM bus lanes operate between 6am and 10am Monday to Friday and PM bus lanes operate between 3pm and 7pm Monday to Friday.
For more information on how to use bus lanes safely and legally see Using bus lanes.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Current projects, fully funded by the NSW Government, are located at:
- Ermington
- Ryde to Rydalmere.
Ermington bus priority work – Stage 2
Work on Stage 2 of a bus priority project near the Ermington shopping precinct began in July 2011.
The current stage of work involves relocating telecommunications services and widening the southern side of Victoria Road westbound between Spurway Street and Silverwater Road.
Widening the road and relocating the central median at this location will make room for an AM bus lane on Victoria Road eastbound between the Silverwater Road exit ramp and Spurway Street.
As part of this work, it is also planned to:
- Retain the existing bus stop on the southern side of Victoria Road.
- Adjust the existing taxi rank in the shopping precinct and maintain its current capacity.
- Relocate the existing electricity substation.
- Subject to consultation with local business operators and Parramatta City Council, plant additional trees along the footpath of the southern side of Betty Cuthbert Avenue.
- Adjust the footpath on the southern side of Victoria Road westbound to accommodate the new eastbound bus lane.
The project will take about 18 months to complete, weather permitting. Normal working hours are Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm and Saturday from 7am to 1pm.
Because of high traffic volumes on Victoria Road, some night work will be necessary. Business operators and residents will be informed prior to any night work.
The project will complement other bus priority measures in the area.
Ryde to Rydalmere
Bus priority work at various locations on Victoria Road from Cressy Road, Ryde to Bridge Street, Rydalmere is scheduled to commence in early 2012. The project will improve bus travel times and the reliability of bus services.
This work includes the creation of:
- an AM bus lane between Clyde Street and Kirby Street, Rydalmere (eastbound).
- an AM bus lane between Blaxland Road and Cressy Road, Ryde (eastbound).
- a PM bus lane between Shaftsbury Road and Cobham Avenue, Denistone West (westbound).
- a PM bus lane between Hughes Avenue and Mailing Avenue, Ermington (westbound).
- a PM bus lane between Park Road and Bridge Street, Rydalmere (westbound).
These new bus lanes will not impact on existing parking arrangements because they will operate during the same hours as the existing clearway restrictions. The work will take about three weeks to complete, weather permitting. Business operators and residents will be informed prior to work commencing.
Completed projects
Huntleys Point to Gladesville
Conversion of the existing westbound kerbside traffic lane on Victoria Road between Huntleys Point Road, Huntleys Point and Pearson Street, Gladesville to a PM red bus lane was completed in June 2011.
This $600,000 project improves the efficiency and reliability of bus services operating on the southern side of Victoria Road.
The bus lane has not impacted on parking arrangements on Victoria Road because the PM bus lane operates during the same hours as the clearway lane it replaced. Outside these hours, vehicles can park in designated parking areas on the southern side of Victoria Road.
This project complements other bus priority measures being provided on Strategic Bus Corridor 10, which connects Parramatta with the Sydney CBD.
Wilde Avenue to James Ruse Drive, Parramatta
The existing east and westbound kerbside lanes on Victoria Road, Parramatta between Wilde Avenue and James Ruse Drive have been converted to AM and PM red bus lanes. This work was completed in July 2011. These bus lanes benefit nine bus services, including the M52 Metrobus route.
Ermington bus priority works – Stage 1
At Ermington, a $1.7 million project has provided a short section of bus only lane in the eastbound kerbside carriageway of Victoria Road on the approach to the Silverwater Road southbound entry ramp.
The bus only lane enables buses travelling between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD to quickly join the city-bound AM bus lane operating between Spurway Street and Kissing Point Road.
Ryde to Huntleys Cove – Victoria Road eastbound bus lane
Further east, Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) has converted the previous AM T3 traffic lane to an AM bus lane on Victoria Road eastbound between Cressy Road, Ryde, and Mortimer Lewis Drive, Huntleys Cove, near Hunters Hill.
The $1.25 million bus lane was implemented in mid 2010.
The 3.5km bus lane has not impacted on parking arrangements because it operates during the same hours as the T3 lane it replaced. Outside these hours, vehicles can park in designated parking areas on Victoria Road in the Gladesville shopping precinct.
