City centre road reopens after months of roadworks

Temporary traffic lights were in place for nearly six months

A major city centre road has fully reopened after nearly six months of roadworks.

A one-way system has been in place on Cumberland Place and Havelock Road in Southampton since 5 February.

Southampton City Council said these works aimed to create shorter journey times for drivers, more reliable buses and safer pedestrian crossings.

The works are part of a a series of improvements targeting the ring road and the council hopes the whole project will be completed "before the end of summer".

Brunswick Place, Cumberland Place and Havelock Road have been partially closed for the works

Money from the £57m government-funded Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), programme in Southampton and Hampshire has been used to fund the scheme.

State-of-the-art traffic lights that can adapt to traffic demand have been installed at Bedford Place, London Road, Commercial Road and West Park Road.

Buses have been given priority to help them cross the ring road more efficiently at two of the junctions.

Footpaths and crossings have been made safer for people with limited mobility, the city council said.

It added that it would now turn its attention to "the final elements of the scheme", including a pocket park that will be created at Devonshire Road junction, to make "a public realm area" between Polygon and the Ring Road.

A spokesperson for Southampton City Council said: “Works will continue to create and finalise the Devonshire Road Pocket Park, adjacent to the White Building, as well as revisiting to complete the various coloured surfaces for the crossing points as green and red surfaces for cycle and bus facilities, respectively.

"The ring road will function as previously, but there will be works ongoing throughout August, however these works are expected to be minor or take place overnight.”