(Image: UK Parliament)This comes after the Portswood bus gate was introduced by Southampton City Council in January 2025 as part of the wider Portswood Project. The bus gate trial saw a section of Portswood Road become restricted to buses, taxis and cyclists during peak hours. The scheme was designed to improve bus journey times, encourage walking and cycling, and reduce traffic levels along Portswood Broadway. The Portswood bus gate trail (Image: NQ)However, it became one of the city’s most debated transport projects, with some residents and businesses raising concerns about displaced traffic, congestion on surrounding roads and the impact on trade. The council confirmed in September 2025 that the bus gate would not continue in its existing form.