A trial of new measures to improve safety and accessibility on Sidgwick Avenue will begin soon, with construction on the temporary scheme starting today Monday 19 October.
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) scheme will address long-standing issues caused by uneven and damaged pavements, which currently force an average of 250 pedestrians, wheelchair users and people with pushchairs into the road each day.
The improvements, which are being introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) are temporary and include widening sections of the existing footway by removing parking bays, installing drop-down bollards to reduce through traffic and repairing potholes and damaged road surfaces.
Cllr Brian Milnes, Chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said:
“Over 70% of people using Sidgwick Avenue walk or wheel, but because of the condition of the pavement, on average each day 250 pedestrians or wheelchair users are being forced off the path and into the road.
"This trial is designed to make the avenue safer and more accessible for everyone while protecting the character of the street and the much-loved London Plane trees that line it.
During the trial we will be measuring the impact of the changes, through surveying users and monitoring road use, to help us evaluate the results and see what the benefits could be. We appreciate residents and users may be impacted during the works, and we ask for their tolerance and support while we try and improve their environment.”
Construction of the scheme will take place over eight weeks, Monday to Friday during working hours, during which time cyclist and pedestrian access will be unchanged. For motorists, the junction with Queens Road and Silver Street will be temporarily closed during active construction times, with a signed diversion along Newnham Road, Barton Road and Grange Road. On-street parking has been removed from Sunday 18 October 2026.
The GCP has been collecting baseline data to help assess the impact of the changes once they are in place, with surveys before and after implementation, as well as monitoring via traffic sensors on the route to evaluate the trial.
The trial measures will remain in place for at least a year and up to 18 months. Feedback from residents, businesses and those travelling through the area will inform any future decisions about the scheme.
Sidgwick Avenue forms part of the Comberton Greenway route, linking west Cambridge communities with key destinations including the University of Cambridge's West Campus and the city centre.
More details are on the project page www.greatercambridge.org.uk/projects/comberton-greenway/sidgwick-avenue