Plymouth’s Royal Parade improvement scheme is entering its final stretch, with resurfacing due to begin next week alongside completing the saw‑tooth kerb line and paving around newly installed bus shelters.

Overnight closures will mark the start of the last phase, intended to cut delays at the city's main bus interchange by adding more stops, reducing queues and eliminating double‑stacking, improving reliability and making bus travel a more attractive alternative to private cars.

To minimise disruption, the final phase will take place at night over the coming weeks.

Much of the city centre sits on concrete slabs laid over post‑war debris. Where these slabs had deteriorated and damaged the road surface, contractors carried out full‑depth carriageway reconstruction during overnight closures in December.

The next series of closures will see the existing surface planed off, a binder course laid, the top surface installed and fresh road markings applied. Works will progress from Derry's Cross towards St Andrew’s Cross, with planing starting on Monday 12 January and further overnight activity in the following weeks.

Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: "I'd like to thank everyone for being so patient while we carry out this scheme. We are on the final furlong and this means there will be overnight work and some disruption, but the end is in sight!

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"Resurfacing means we are on the home straight. I don't want to jinx progress by giving a specific end date, but we are weeks away from finishing.

"Royal Parade is massively important to our bus network – there are over 100 buses every hour and over 9 million passenger journeys from or to Royal Parade every year.

"We are working to improve bus services to make it easier for everyone to get to work, school, shops and businesses or see family and with 25 per cent of households in Plymouth without a car, we need to improve sustainable travel choices."

Key elements of the scheme include redesigning the road with a shallow saw‑tooth layout and increasing bus stops from 12 to 15. This will prevent double‑stacking and unnecessary idling, helping to improve air quality.

The new layout will enhance bus manoeuvrability and safety by reducing the need to reverse from stops and allowing passengers to board and alight directly from the pavement.

Larger shelters are being installed — two completed, two currently going in and 11 more due in the next two months — with updated bench seating featuring armrests and extra space for wheelchair users and pushchairs. Green roofs will be added in the spring when conditions suit planting.

Paving around the shelters includes a dark grey band to help drivers align doors with the shelter openings. Set back from the kerb, there is additional space for buses to use kneeling suspension to lower to the kerb for wheelchair access.

A new toucan crossing allowing cyclists to ride across is complete, and an average speed camera system is being installed to replace static cameras.

High‑quality granite paving slabs have been laid along the length of the pavement on this side of Royal Parade, replacing worn, slippery concrete.

Next week's planing works will require these overnight closures: Monday 12 January — eastbound (shop side) closed 7pm to 6am; the Theatre Royal pedestrian crossing shut; bus stop A9 closed. Tuesday 13 January — eastbound closed 7pm to 6am; the Armada Way crossing shut; bus stop A9 closed. Wednesday 14 January — eastbound closed 7pm to 6am including bus stop A9; westbound closed 11pm to 6am with all stops A1 to A8 closed; pedestrian crossings at Armada Way and St Andrew’s Cross shut 11pm to 6am. Thursday 15 January — eastbound closed 7pm to 6am; bus stop A9 closed.

When Royal Parade is closed eastbound, traffic will be diverted via Western Approach, Cobourg Street, Charles Street and Exeter Street; the reverse applies westbound (Exeter Street, Charles Street, Cobourg Street and Western Approach). Bus passengers should check with operators as services may use different diversions.

Courtenay Street car park remains open, although drivers may prefer to park elsewhere due to potential delays exiting onto Royal Parade.