Adams Road in Cambridge has opened to the public, as work to transform it into England’s first cycle street reaches its final stages. The route provides a vital connection between Cambridge West and the city centre for commuters and students. Currently used by up to 3,000 cyclists a day, usage is expected to increase with development taking place nearby.
Cycle streets give cyclists greater priority, with cars traveling at the same speed as cyclists.
The upgrade of Adams Road is a key milestone in the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s (GCP’s) Comberton Greenway project, one of twelve greenway routes which seek to improve walking, wheeling and cycling journeys. When complete, the greenways will form a 150km network linking Cambridge with neighbouring villages.
Construction began in October 2025 and has included:
- Widening both sides of the footways to create more room for pedestrians
- The installation of rainwater gardens along the road’s edge which act as drainage by absorbing water runoff
- Improving the existing junction with Grange Road
- Construction of an upgraded junction giving greater priority to pedestrians at Adams Road and Sylvester Road
- Enhanced onward connections through an improved junction at Wilberforce Road
- The provision of additional crossings along Adams Road
- Resurfacing all footways and the carriageway
These changes aim to tackle longstanding issues in the area caused by narrow pavements and busy junctions. The painting of road markings, the last remaining work on the project, is expected to be complete in the coming weeks.
Jonathan Camp, GCP project manager said: “We’re delighted that Adams Road is open for use: it's a significant milestone in the progression of the Comberton Greenway. We may still need to temporarily close parts of Adams Road while the last remaining work is carried out. We’d like to thank the residents of Adams Road for all their support and patience throughout construction.”
For more information on the GCP’s greenways, visit: www.greatercambridge.org.uk/greenways