You may see a bus headed the ‘wrong way’ down this street starting next week

Starting Monday, contraflow traffic will begin on King Street as part of the Bus Rapid Transit project. CTV London’s Reta Ismail reports.

Signs are posted along King Street in downtown London, Ont., informing drivers of big traffic changes coming next week.

“We’re going to begin contraflow operations on King Street, and that means that for regular drivers, it’s still a one-way street eastbound. But on the north curb lane, we’re going to be adding a westbound lane for busses only,” explained Jennie Dann, director, Construction and Infrastructure Services with the City of London.

The city says this is a gradual rollout and anticipates that it will take some time for drivers to get use to the changes.

LTC route 94 will begin travelling eastbound and westbound on King Street between Ontario Street and Wellington Street every 20 minutes during weekday peak periods.

“Londoners can have a chance to experience what it’s like having a bus moving in that contraflow lane and help them get used to that. And then in about two years from now, when the full east London link corridor is completed out to Fanshawe, then you’ll see some higher frequencies with more operations,” said Dann.

King Street remains one-way for general traffic and drivers are reminded to continue travelling eastbound only. Red paint, signs, arrows, and other pavement markings have been installed through the corridor to help drivers recognize the bus-only transit lanes.

“The road has been by law to be one way traffic for general traffic, but it is by law to recognize bus only in that north curb lane,” said Dann.

Parking, biking, driving, or stopping on the red bus lanes is not permitted and city bylaw will continue to monitor and issue fines.