23 June 2015
The second phase of the St Mary “walkable village” project is now complete and La Verte Rue has reopened.
This second phase of the project has delivered the following improvements
- the bus stops have been moved from Rue de Rondin to outside the school on La Verte Rue where there are benches and a bus shelter
- field paths have been made from Clos des Buis to La Route de L’Eglise to allow pedestrians to walk from the rear of Clos de l’ Arsenal to the school
- trimming of the lower branches of the trees along La Verte Rue has improved views through to the churchyard, provided more light to the road, improved the view to the new field paths and created an avenue of trees
- road alterations have been made to slow traffic on La Verte Rue to provide a safer environment for children outside the school
- access has been improved from the church car park to the school and Parish Hall
- planting beds have been provided opposite the Parish Memorial
- the space in front of the memorial has been designed to provide an opportunity to close the road and use the space on the road for commemorative occasions.
Traffic calming
The first phase of the project was completed earlier this year and the community is already seeing the benefits. Crossing the road at the junction near the church is much easier due to the traffic calming feature and bus passengers have been able to wait under cover in the new bus shelter by the pub or sit on the new bench opposite.
Phase 3, expected to start after the Island Games, will see the construction of the field paths continuing along La Verte Rue to Rue de la Rosière and traffic calming at the junction by Bethlehem Chapel and outside the garage. A 'virtual footpath', similar to the one in Rue de la Vallée, will then be provided to continue the roadside footpath along Rue des Buttes to the Co-Op shop and the garage.
The Connétable of St Mary, Juliette Gallichan, said “I would like to thank people for their tolerance and patience while these improvement works are happening and assure them, the changes have already made a difference and when the project is completed later in the year, there will be a huge improvement in the quality of life in our village.”
Minister for Transport and Technical Services, Deputy Eddie Noel, added “Some of the features in this improvement scheme are new to Jersey and may take a while for people to get used to them, but they are in keeping with a village environment and add character as well as providing practical benefits.”
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