The signs are up and the new bus lanes in Currie Street are now a no-go zone for public motorists even though buses will not start to use the lanes until the end of the week.

The lane will allow buses and taxis to continue straight through the West Terrace intersection, from Glover Avenue to Currie Street, in a dedicated transit lane that would continue along Grenfell Street.

It will halve the lanes for private vehicles from 7:00am to 7:00pm, with one lane each way now available.

Paul Gelston, director of road and traffic management at the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure told 891 Breakfast the moves were a measure to give priority to people rather than private cars.

Mr Gelston said it was important for the changes to be enforced prior to the buses using the new lane, to give motorists a chance to become aware of the lane restrictions and also have a chance to adjust their travel plans prior to the changes taking full effect at the end of the week.

"This is a project that we are implementing, and implementing as quickly as possible."

Mr Gelston said recent weather had delayed the change over, but signs were up and painting of the road would be completed soon.

"As people come in each morning, they will see additional pavement messages, and it is important that people understand and are reminded that it is a bus lane.

"It will be fully operational by the end of this week/early next."

Mr Gelston said the lanes were now defined as bus lanes during the 7:00am to 7:00pm period, and would prefer private road users to not use the lanes.

Police have not booked drivers

Rumours that police had been actively booking drivers misusing the newly categorised lanes have been found to be untrue.

Senior Constable Dave Muir from South Australian Police Media said that police units had been in the area of the new lanes earlier this week to help educate motorists of the changes, but not one driver had been booked for an offence relating to the new lanes.

From Monday 9 July 2012 police would commence Operation Flow, a three month education program to direct Currie Street motorists out of the newly designated bus lanes during the active times.

Enforcement via fines would begin after the three month campaign had been completed.