New entrance to Pool Meadow Bus Station in Coventry

[JoNi]

Work continues on creating the new entrance to Pool Meadow Bus Station adjacent to the Ring Road. From today (2/1/13) stop R (6/6A to Tanyard Farm) is closed for two weeks to allow completion of "carriageway works". The 6/6A are departing from stop P which is the 5 stop to Tile Hill South. The current exit to Pool Meadow will apparently become another of those dreaded red shared spaces >:( >:(! Seems the opening of the new exit is likely to coincide with the new timetable on routes 8/8A/8S/9/9A.

[D10]

Work continues on creating the new entrance to Pool Meadow Bus Station adjacent to the Ring Road. From today (2/1/13) stop R (6/6A to Tanyard Farm) is closed for two weeks to allow completion of "carriageway works". The 6/6A are departing from stop P which is the 5 stop to Tile Hill South. The current exit to Pool Meadow will apparently become another of those dreaded red shared spaces >:( >:(! Seems the opening of the new exit is likely to coincide with the new timetable on routes 8/8A/8S/9/9A.

So will the new entrance be only an entrance or an exit as well does anyone know? Likewise the current entrance/exit onto Fairfax Street, will that still be both an entrance and exit?

[JoNi]

Its wide enough to be an entrance and exit. The kerbs and road surface has been laid off Hales Street by the old fire station. They've taken up the paving slabs today in preparation for laying the road surface to connect Hales Street to the bus station.

[D10]

Thanks JoNi, will try to get over to Coventry soon to see what is going on, hopefully it will be easier for more buses to be able to serve the station afterwards.

[JoNi]

Hales Street between the Coventry Transport Museum and the Old Fire Station is closed for resurfacing this week, as is the slip road from the ring road. Route 21 to Wood End diverted via Trinity Street, Burges, Bishops Street, Tower Street, Ring Road to reach Stoney Stanton Road with 6/6A to Little Heath similarly diverted. 6/6A towards Tanyard Farm arrives at Pool Meadow via the same route as Willenhall bound 21s. National Express coaches have been seen gaining access from the Ring Road via Gosford Street, Jorden Well, Cox Street and Fairfax Street. 
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The railings that align with the exit doors of bendibuses on Stop K in Pool Meadow were removed today presumably so that it can be converted as an additional stand.
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When the new exit opens in just over a weeks time the existing exit will apparently close to allow it to be converted to a red square :(
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No news of any new timetables relating to these changes as certain routes e.g. 6/6A towards Little Heath are likely to be permenantly rerouted as the new exit is wide enough to turn right out of, rather than going round the block via Fairfax Street.

[Daniel541]

BendiBuses maybe move to New Stand in Bus Station "S or U or T or M"

[JPC]

Looks like there's a bus gate/lane under construction on White St inbound underneath the ring road, running inbound via the outbound carriageway, now that sounds about normal for Coventry City Council.

The work on the red square isn't due to start until 24th April, but other roadworks being done first may close Fairfax Street from 4th Feb.  I suppose all the route changes will be classed as temporary diversions for the time being rather than a registered route change on VOSA.

The 18/18A/19 registration has a route and timetable alteration from 10th March, but wouldn't think it is connected with Pool Meadow.

[JoNi]

Hales Street resurfacing completed and reopened this afternoon after completion of road markings. 21 to Wood End and 6/A to Little Heath restored to previous routing.
New Pool Meadow entrance/exit is finished with road markings in place but worksite barriers still in place pending removal of temporay walkway and recommissioning of stand for buses to Tile Hill on 6/A. The entrance/exit has central islands and is much wider than a bus allowing easy access.
Traffic restored to Fairfax Street :-[, it isn't the buses but cars that makes it dangerous to cross the road. Coventry City Council declutters streets of railings etc. but not of cars that really get in the way and find other ways to go when roads are closed. enough said!!

[JPC]

Quote from Coventry City Council...

Fairfax Street Public Realm/Heatline works  11/02/13 – 31/08/13
Works on Fairfax St commence 11th Feb 2013 for Culvert repair, followed by Heatline project works. Extensive disruption is expected to Fairfax Street whilst works are carried out.

The culvert runs underneath the Priory Street/Fairfax Street junction.

[JoNi]

I've heard that the new bus station entrance will open on 11th February with Fairfax Street converted to eastbound only between the Whittle arches and the existing Pool Meadow Bus Station exit. It's only a week away there is still no info on either Centro or the National Express Coventry websites regarding route changes which will inevitably take place.

[JPC]

If Fairfax Street is to remain open in one direction, Westbound would be best option for bus traffic, allowing stand V and the swimming baths bus stop to remain in use and minimise diversions, but traffic entering the city centre at White Street/Ring Road J2 will have to be restricted to bus station traffic only.

How will NXC Staff/Visitors private vehicles access the NXC car park, I don't think Centro will want them trundling through the bus station, NXC will have to open the gate at Ford Street I suppose. Taxis will also not be able to access the bus station taxi rank. ;D

Coach stands A to D, or at least B to D could remain in use if it is possible for coaches to perform U turn beside stand A :-\ , all depends on how much junction get blocked off I guess.

[JoNi]

I couldn't agree more especially as the Britannia Hotel on the westbound side of the road is used by National Holidays, whose coaches can be seen parked in the layby offloading guests for overnight stays on the Warwickshire leg of their tours. Buses running dead to NXCs garage or Pool Meadow from outer terminals often come in westbound via Fairfax Street rather than go via the arch. It was amazing how well things worked when Hales Street was closed to cars while the road was resurfaced recently. You soon realise that its the cars that need decluttering from Fairfax Street.

[JoNi]

National Express Coventry have just announced that while Fairfax Street is closed westbound, Services 4 ,5, 7, 8, 8A, 9, 9A will be diverted and stop in Pool Meadow bus station.

4 to Holbrooks at stop U. This is on the back row in the north eastern corner facing eastbound. Next stop presumably still Burges :o
8, 8A, 9, 9A to Rail Station at stop N, where 5 to Tile Hill currently stops.

Obviously the 85/585 to station will also be affected but this is an NXC announcement

Other stand alterations in Pool Meadow bus station

5 to Tile Hill South moved to stop M. where 18/A currently stops
7 to Middlemarch moved to stop G. where 85/585 towards hospital currently stops.

According to a sign in Fairfax Street it is going to be one way eastbound for 9 weeks while decluttering works are undertaken.

[Daniel541]

The new bus station entrance reopen on today.

[JoNi]

From mid morning buses took advantage of the new entrance/exit.

Routes 5 towards Tile Hill and 18/A nip straight into the western side of the bus station and then exit through the new exit and turn left towards the arches. 

Routes 6/A work directly to/from the bus station via the new entrance when going to/from Little Heath/Victoria Farm direction.. 
Route 16A to/from Stoke Aldermoor/Hospital work directly to/from the Hillfields direction.
 
Routes 6 and 10 towards Tile Hill/Eastern Green turn direct left out of the bus station through the new exit.. 
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The only buses that use the existing exit are 4, 8/A, 9/A, 10 and 16 towards Ball Hill/Walsgrave having arrived by turning left under the arch and then using the new entrance to reach their stands on the east side of the bus station. 

It is not possible for buses leaving Wheatley Street garage to exit the bus station by driving straight across the top because the island between entry and exit lanes of the new entrance is poorly shaped forcing buses to navigate the western loop ::). 

Dead buses can run directly to the garage from the ring road to the garage using the new entrance. 4453(CCT bus!) was the first one seen coming in dead after working on the 12 in the morning peak.

Routes 11/12 are unchanged. 

There will be further changes at the weekend when roadworks start in Fairfax Street.