A total of £18.5m is set to be pumped into improving transport in Southampton city centre.
Coming as part of a pot of £57m from the government's Transforming Cities Fund, the money is set to be used across the city centre, promoting public transport and enhancing cycle and pedestrian links.
Funding is mostly going to be used for five major projects across the city centre, including Southampton Central Station and outside the Civic Centre.
Below is a round-up of the five major schemes that have been revealed by the city council and when to expect works to take place.
READ MORE: Southampton city centre set for transformation with £18.5m project
Civic Centre Junction
Costing a total of £2m, plans for the junction of Civic Centre Road and Havelock Road include upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossings, removing the current three-staged crossing.
Signal technology will also be improved to perform more efficiently and provide priority to buses.
An on-road cycle lane will be put in on Havelock Road with changes to lane arrangements also set to see traffic directed between Havelock Road and Civic Centre Road, reducing congestion on New Road.
Construction is expected to take place from autumn 2023 to spring 2024 with changes on the Portland Terrace section of the junction also due to include enhanced signal technology and new cycle lanes.
East Park Terrace
With work due to start next summer, East Park Terrace is due to become a bus, taxi and cycle-only area between Charlotte Place Roundabout and the New Road/Palmerston Road junction.
Coming in conjunction with the New Road Bus Connectivity Scheme, the move is planned to allow for public realm improvements.
Bus journey times and reliability are expected to improve as a result according to the council with the authority also claiming the closure to private vehicles will "create better connectivity" between the university, parks and city centre.
In documents shared by the council on the scheme, it says: "This connection is important in providing safer access for students walking and cycling to the site through the parks from other university locations and accommodation."
This stage is expected to cost £2.1m in total.
Northern Inner Ring Road
Coming as the second stage of works on this section of road, changes to Southampton's northern ring road will get underway in Autumn 2022.
This will include footway improvements along the A3024 and will then continue into early 2023 with improvements to junctions.
The junction with Devonshire Road will be permanently closed to traffic and a pocket park will be created with a pedestrian crossing.
Signal upgrades will also be carried out at junctions with London Road, Commercial Road and West Park Road with further works to improve cycling and walking provisions at London Road.
The council says this stage of the work, which is expected to cost $4.6m, will ensure "better traffic flows providing a better alternative to New Road".
Southampton Central Station Interchange
Costing £5.5m, works to Central Station will commence in spring 2023 and last until autumn 2023.
Development of a new interchange is currently underway on the southern side of the station which is expected to see improved bus facilities with waiting areas and real-time information, increased access to e-scooters and parking for bicycles.
An improved taxi rank will also be created with drop-off and waiting facilities with an upgraded car park and loading area due to be created.
The council says: "The scheme will provide an enhanced and dynamic space for all users through the use of improved materials and layout, dedicated feature passenger waiting lounge with up-to-date travel information and improved connection to other key parts of the City and Port.
"The various improvements make more efficient use of the site and deconflict the various users."
Albion Place Bus Interchange, Portland Terrace & Urban Park
With work due to start next autumn, the new Albion Place bus interchange and nearby park at Castle Way is expected to create an "exciting new space within the heart of the city centre whilst helping to future-proof bus operations to the west".
Aimed at increasing the number of available bus stops while improving public transport access, the scheme will see new waiting facilities, public seating, landscaping, access to e-scooters and travel information.
The scheme includes the conversion of the Castle Way car park into an urban park and turning Portland Terrace into a bus/cycle/taxi-only zone from Spa Road to the Shopmobility site.
The council says this will "reduce traffic along Portland Terrace, contribute to an enhanced environment for people walking and cycling, and facilitate changes to Castle Way including improved crossings to the new interchange, the Old Town and West Quay".
The work is planned to be completed by Spring 2024 and is thought to cost £3.9m.
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