Portsmouth City Council has completed upgrades on the A3 Northern Parade, improving journey times for thousands of passengers and helping services run more reliably along this key corridor serving Hilsea, including schools, workplaces and hospital journeys.

At Portsmouth Park & Ride, changes to the entrance and exit are helping buses move more easily into the city centre, improving connections for commuters, shoppers and visitors.

Bus stops across the city are also being improved, with new shelters, better lighting and real-time information making them safer and easier to use. Recent upgrades in the city centre and at Hilsea Lido are already improving the waiting experience and helping buses keep to time.

Accessibility improvements at 13 stops, shaped by feedback from residents and drivers, are making it easier for everyone to get on and off the bus. Better footways, clearer layouts and new dropped kerbs are supporting smoother boarding, particularly for wheelchair users, people with mobility aids and parents with buggies.

Further upgrades are underway on Lake Road, where improvements at the junction with Fratton Road will support safer, more accessible journeys and help buses move more reliably through the area. Alongside this, plans include a new pocket park with tree planting, seating and landscaped space to improve the local environment.

The next phase will see work begin on Kingston Road, introducing a part-time bus lane to improve reliability on one of the city’s busiest corridors.

Councillor Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “These upgrades show our commitment to making bus travel quicker, more reliable and more accessible for everyone in Portsmouth. Whether you’re heading to work, visiting Hilsea Lido or travelling into the city centre, these improvements will make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.”

The Council is also continuing to work closely with our local bus operators, First and Stagecoach, alongside key strategic delivery partners through a Enhanced Bus Partnership. By working together, all partners can better plan and deliver improvements that keep services reliable, respond to passenger needs and support a more joined-up, high-quality bus network.

These improvements are further steps towards a bus network that is easier to use and better connected, supporting cleaner, healthier and more sustainable travel across the city. Actions to date have already increased bus use across the city to over a million trips per month, and have grown the number of bus trips taken by over 50% in the past 3 years.

For more information, visit travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/bsip.