Broad Street to become traffic-free zone

Tuesday 19 May 2020

Broad Street will be temporarily closed to motor traffic to allow pedestrians in town more space to physically distance from others and allow alfresco dining options to flourish, it has been announced.

The Minister for Infrastructure Deputy Kevin Lewis announced the move in a statement made at this morning's virtual States Assembly sitting.

The road will be closed to all motor traffic from Saturday (23 May) until further notice, but delivery vehicles will still be able to use Broad Street between 07:00 and 11:00 each day.

Making his statement to the Assembly, Deputy Lewis said: “As activity in town grows, with more shops opening and al fresco dining being permissible, we need to be able to adapt our streets in the light of public health advice to meet our changing needs and support the commercial vibrancy of St Helier.”

Outlining the rationale for making Broad Street a pedestrian-zone, Deputy Lewis said: “Broad Street provides a useful alternative to King Street, which will become progressively more busy, having to accommodate increased queuing outside its many popular shops. Broad Street also has the potential to provide for alfresco areas for food outlets.” 

In terms of the impact of this move, Deputy Lewis continued: “We are aware that some disabled parking bays will be affected, and we are reviewing alternative locations for these. As time is short and the need pressing, the changes to traffic management will in effect be rapidly prototyped and adapted as the need arises or conditions change. We are in uncertain times; we cannot rely on traffic modelling to give us the answers. Traffic volumes will be changing as government lockdown restrictions are reduced. Peoples’ reactions are difficult to predict. Having a progressive programme allows us to tweak schemes and to adapt as we work.”

Pictured: Minister for Infrastructure Deputy Kevin Lewis. 

The government has since elaborated on the details of the plan, stating that a letter is being sent to all Broad Street businesses and residents to advise them of the following changes:

• businesses are asked to rearrange their deliveries to fit those times bearing in mind that rearranging deliveries to early morning (before 8:00), when there are fewer pedestrians, will help reduce risk for delivery drivers and pedestrians;
• the disabled parking bays outside of the Blue Note Bar will be suspended, and will be replaced with other bays, in addition to the existing Sand Street car Park, Library Place and New Street spaces. If anyone has mobility issues with accessing the area, the Shopmobility team in Sand Street car park are on stand-by to help;
• cyclists will still be permitted to use the road provided they be considerate and understand that pedestrians have priority. Keeping Broad Street open for cycling will encourage it to be used as an alternative to public transport, which is operating at reduced capacity to assist with physical distancing;
• bus routes 5 and 9 which currently turn on Broad Street will still depart from Liberation Station where passengers should now catch the bus from, but the routes will change from Saturday (23 May);
• drivers can follow signage for alternative routes and, at the outset, Honorary Police will help to manage the traffic and advise motorists.

Pictured top: Broad Street, which is becoming a pedestrianised area. (Google Maps)