Milton Road update: December 2023

The Milton Road project aims to improve public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure to make these sustainable travel options a more attractive alternative to the car.

This month has been a busy one with more areas being completed or nearly complete ready for the festive season, and new pieces of work well underway.

As works at the King’s Hedges junction progress, the south-east quadrant is now open as far as the Co-op.

Works are continuing along the side of the Co-op on Green End Road and will be completed early in the New Year. This will mean that work on the King’s Hedges junction is more than 50% complete.

All four pedestrian crossings at the junction are fully open and operational, although you may need to wait a little longer for the red light to change. This is to prioritise the flow of traffic through this busy junction to ease congestion. We have installed notices to inform pedestrians about a longer wait time. Please do not attempt to cross the road until the light turns green, for the safety of all users of the area.

On the east side of Milton Road, the final layer of asphalt between Cook Close and King’s Hedges has been laid. The first layer of tarmac has been laid (‘binder course’) between the Volkswagen Garage and King’s Hedges (towards the Guided Busway). A final layer (‘surface course’) will then be laid at a later date.

Photo: View of the south-east quadrant of King’s Hedges junction

Work on the south-west quadrant is scheduled to start on 4 January 2024.

Photo: Earlier photo of the south-west quadrant (left) taken from the south-east quadrant

Works on the west between the roundabout and Arbury Road are now underway.

There are narrow lanes on the west side between the roundabout and Arbury Road with the eastern carriageway now the ‘live lane’. All shops can still be accessed, and the bus stop in this area remains open.

This work is being carried out in three phases:

• Phase 1 is the roundabout to the substation next to 107a Milton Road (currently being worked on). To date, drainage has been installed in this section, the old kerb line removed and the new one dug out. Edging kerbs have been installed. Asphalt removal and excavation is continuing.
• Phase 2 is an extension of phase 1, from the roundabout to No. 127 (commences after Christmas)
• Phase 3 is 129 to Arbury Road, including the junction (commences after Christmas).

Please note that phase 2 is inclusive of the works currently underway in phase 1 and will commence after Christmas. As phase 2 commences, a second team will begin from No.127 and will work southbound towards the roundabout. As part of the phase 2 works, the team currently working between the roundabout and the substation will continue work in the New Year and then work northbound to meet up with the second team.

To enable work on the Arbury Road junction to be carried out as smoothly as possible in the New Year, Union Lane will be closed to vehicles at the Milton Road end between the following dates:

• 8 January 2024 to 16 February 2024
• 26 February 2024 to 24 May 2024

Work will take place on Arbury Road under temporary traffic lights. By closing Union Lane, we can alter the traffic light timings to improve traffic flow in the area. Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained from Milton Road onto Union Lane as normal.

We appreciate this will be disruptive to the local area. However, by carrying out the works in this manner we hope to reduce the overall impact of disruption to both residents of Union Lane, and the wider community of Milton Road by minimising congestion and waiting times at this busy junction.

Access to Union Lane by vehicle will be via Green End Road/Scotland Road and/or via Chesterton High Street from the Elizabeth Way roundabout.

Photo: Union Lane

Works to create a new Copenhagen crossing for Ramsden Square (similar to the one at Kendal Way – image below) are starting after Christmas.

To enable these works to take place, the exit on to Milton Road will be closed to all means of transport from 8 January 2024 for approximately 8 weeks.

Access to Ramsden Square by foot, cycle or vehicle will be via King’s Hedges Road as shown in the map (© Google Maps)

Please note that because of the following works, the inbound Ascham Road bus stop has temporarily moved to opposite No.59 Milton Road. 

Footway construction is continuing north of Gilbert Road on the east. The remaining linear drainage and kerbing is to be completed. Black and red asphalt has been laid southbound on the east from the roundabout to in between Hurst Park Avenue and Ascham Road. This section is now open for pedestrian access.

As works progress in this area, traffic signals are being installed at Gilbert Road and Ascham Road.

Also, tree cell excavation is taking place north of Gilbert Road on the west ready for footway construction. To find out more about this process, visit GreenBlue Urban.

Watch our video which details how the new trees on Milton Road are being cared for.

Photo: Example of tree cell excavation on Milton Road

Any bus stops not listed below are currently open and functioning as normal.

‘Bus stop suspended’ signage will always be displayed with a notice of the new temporary location. Information boards and service provider websites will also display information.

Newly opened: