Connecting Sheffield: Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road

Following SYMCA’s approval of the Connecting Sheffield: Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road project in March, we started implementation in June.

The first phase will see us complete bus priority works at and near the Rustlings Road and Ecclesall Road junction.

We will also carry out bus priority works at or near other key junctions:

• Moore Street on the approach to Moore Street Roundabout
• the Bannerdale Road and Abbeydale Road junction
• the Tesco access road and Abbeydale Road junction
• the Springfield Road and Abbeydale Road junction, and
• the Abbey Lane and Abbeydale Road junction.

Alongside these works, we will also introduce or upgrade bus priority. Each set of traffic lights along Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road will detect buses on their approach and reduce the amount of time they have to wait. The project will help to provide more reliable and consistent bus services.

We will also enhance how we enforce illegal parking and loading in bus lanes by using cameras in key locations along Ecclesall Road and Abbeydale Road / London Road.

Soon, we'll start formal consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Orders to amend some bus lanes, and local parking and loading restrictions. You will be able to comment during the Traffic Regulation Order process, and we will update this page again to let you know when this will happen.

We anticipate that all the project will be complete by summer 2025.

You can find information below about what’s happening in which area.

What’s happening on Abbeydale Road?

Abbey Lane junction

We will:

• Replace a short section of the inbound bus lane running between Sherwood Glen and Abbey Lane with two general traffic lanes. This will allow us to put bus priority systems at the traffic lights which will benefit bus services.
• Introduce a bus priority system at the traffic lights at the junction of Abbey Lane and Abbeydale Road.
• Add double yellow lines between Sherwood Glen and Abbey Lane buses can be detected and prioritised when they pass through the Abbey Lane junction. There will be no parking or loading allowed at any time. These changes will improve the flow of traffic on this stretch of the road.

Springfield Road junction

We will:

• Replace the inbound bus lane between Knaresborough Road and Springfield Road with two general traffic lanes so we can install a bus priority system.
• Move the inbound bus stop, currently between Knaresborough Road and Springfield Road, to the other side of the Springfield Road junction, just in front of Roses The Bakers. We will also relocate the outbound bus stop, currently situated close to Millhouses Post Office, to just in front of The Millhouses Pub. This will mean we can add bus priority systems at the traffic lights at the Springfield Road junction.
• Adjust the centre line of the road so vehicles can pass any buses waiting at the bus stop to maintain the flow of traffic.
• Add double yellow lines in places along both sides of the road between Knaresborough Road and Hutchinson Road. Loading restrictions will remain between 7.30am and 9.30am, and between 4pm and 6.30pm.

Tesco junction

Map of our proposals for Abbeydale Road at the Tesco junction

We will:

• Add a segregated 24-hour bus lane to bypass the signals at the Tesco junction to make sure journey times aren’t affected by Tesco traffic.
• Move the outbound bus stop located just after Bannerdale Road to just before the Tesco access road.

Bannerdale Road junction

Map of our proposals for the Abbeydale Road junction with Bannerdale Road

After we reviewed the initial design at the junction near the church, we found that adding pedestrian crossings to the junction near the access road to the church would lead to safety concerns and wouldn’t meet existing guidance. We’ve removed the crossings we originally proposed at all arms of the junction from this project, but we’re looking at alternative options to provide crossings here in the future.

We’ll introduce new parking restrictions outbound, along a section of the road between Archer Road and Troutbeck Road. These restrictions will prevent parking and waiting at any time. Current loading restrictions – between 7.30am and 9.30am, and between 4pm and 6.30pm – will remain. This will allow us to widen two inbound lanes along this section to provide more space for buses and cars.

What’s happening on Ecclesall Road?

Hunter’s Bar roundabout

We will:

• Remove the outbound bus lane from Hunter’s Bar roundabout towards Ecclesall Road South so traffic can flow more smoothly from the roundabout. This will help to make bus journey times more consistent.
• Remove the outbound bus stop just after the Hunter’s Bar roundabout to further help the traffic flow from the roundabout. Buses travelling on to Ecclesall Road South will stop at the bus stop in front of the Trinity United Reformed Church. Buses heading on to Rustlings Road will instead stop at the bus stop just before Onslow Road.
• Move the inbound bus stop just after the Rustlings Road junction further back along the road so that it’s close to the hatched markings. Buses can then pull into a layby to pick up passengers without holding up traffic. The relocated bus stop will continue to serve all the buses currently using the existing stop in front of the Hallamshire Tennis and Squash club.
• Move the pedestrian island at the top of Rustlings Road further down the road. This will allow us to put a pedestrian crossing across the top of Rustlings Road, making it easier for pedestrians to cross.

Moore Street roundabout

We’ll install pre-signal priority just before the junction to allow buses to approach ahead of general traffic.

As part of the Connecting Sheffield: Nether Edge – City Centre project, we’ll make changes to the central reserve at the crossing in front of the LIV student accommodation. We’ll also move the inbound bus stop and existing cycle exit to allow for this.