Plans to upgrade walking and cycling along Hills Road out to consultation

New plans to significantly improve cycling and walking journeys along Hills Road are being put to the public today.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership has launched a public consultation on options to upgrade active travel paths and junctions on Hills Road from Purbeck Road / Hills Road Sixth Form College to the Lensfield Road junction to encourage more people to walk and cycle around the city centre.

The options include the potential addition of extended cycle lanes, floating bus stops and a full or partial CYCLOPS junction to make it easier and safer to walk or cycle to work, school, meet friends or access the railway station and healthcare.

Project manager for the GCP, Paul van de Bulk, said:

“Hills Road is a major route in Cambridge that connects the city centre to Cambridge Station and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, but we know the existing active travel infrastructure could be improved. The section from Addenbrooke’s roundabout to the railway bridge has made a significant difference, and we want to build on that.

“That’s why we have developed two potential options to make it easier, safer, and smoother to travel along this key route on foot or by bicycle. Please have a look at the two options and tell us your views before the consultation closes on 24 July.”

The two options proposed in the Cycling Plus Hills Road scheme are:

Option A – extend the cycle lanes, retaining the existing kerb lines while improving them with the introduction of the Cambridge kerb along the length of the scheme. Four of the existing bus stops would be replaced with floating bus stops layout.

Option B – altering the layout of the Hills Road railway bridge by moving cycle lanes next to the footways on either side. Full or partial CYCLOPS junctions could be delivered at Cherry Hinton Road and Station Road, alongside the removal of bus lanes, and more extensive changes to junctions and crossings. Bus stops would be replaced with floating bus stops.

People can attend three consultation events where they can discuss the scheme with members of the project and design teams. Two will be online, and one in person. The dates and venues are:

• 6 – 8pm 28 June – Online via Microsoft Teams
• 6:30 – 8:30pm 5 July – in-person at Cambridge Junction, Room J3
• 6 – 8pm 13 July – Online via Microsoft Teams

For more information and to have your say on the proposals visit the ConsultCambs webpage.

The consultation will close at midday on Monday 24 July.