Histon Road: two years on

People have been sharing how their daily journeys have been transformed by the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Histon Road project.

The scheme, which opened two years ago, features a dedicated bus lane, floating bus stops, new footpaths and new or widened cycle lanes, as well as Cambridge’s first CYCLOPS (cycle optimised protected signals) junction to improve journeys and safety along a key route in and out of Cambridge.

Road users have been explaining how the improved infrastructure has improved their journeys and encouraged them to travel by bus, bike or foot to work, school or to meet their friends.

One user, who cycles four times a week, told the GCP:

“It has made such a difference. I feel so much safer going into work than I did before. This used to be the most dangerous stretch of my journey to work and now, when I come up Histon Road, I feel like I’m back within the safety of the cycle path.

“I’ve got children who may end up going into town for sixth form and this project makes me much more confident letting them cycle in.”

Another resident, who uses Histon Road almost every day, said:

“I’ve lived here for 30 years and for cyclists it is a really big improvement. I believe every major cycling route should have a cycle path like Histon Road.”

A third said they were now more likely to use Histon Road since the updates, adding:

“You now see, at school pick up time, hordes of schoolchildren on bikes waiting for the lights to change which was quite perilous before. I’m more likely to cycle this way - I used to avoid coming this way."

The Histon Road project has picked up a number of awards since it was opened by Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s executive board, and members of the community in autumn 2021.

The project won the sustainable transport category at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) East of England Awards in 2022. The award recognises how improving highways and transport links can benefit the health of the community.

Then last month, the GCP and Cambridgeshire County Council took home the Active Travel Award - which recognises the best local authority active travel schemes - at the City Transport & Traffic Innovation Magazine (CiTTi) awards for Histon Road and phase one of the Chisholm Trail.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, said:

“It’s great to hear from residents and users of Histon Road about how our award-winning project has changed their daily journeys for the better. I use the road myself almost daily, and have done over several years. The change in the quality of my journeys has been remarkable.

“The upgrades made to this key route makes it easier for people to travel safely and more reliably, and I hope it will encourage even more people to walk, bus or cycle in and out of Cambridge to cut congestion on the roads and improve the quality of the air we breathe.”

In total, 6,400 square metres of footpaths, 8,000 square metres of cycle lanes and 540m of bus lane have been created.

The Histon Road scheme also includes a CYCLOPS junction - an orbital cycle route separating cyclists from motor traffic - alongside a raft of other upgrades to improve safety for all road users.

CemFree – an innovative cement-free concrete alternative – was used by contractors Milestone to lay the kerbs, recycled plastic drainage kerbs were used and 16 new trees were planted as part of the GCP’s commitment to the environment.