News
Proposals to improve safety and walking, cycling and bus journeys along Hills Road progressed
Published 05 January 2024
Proposals to improve road safety and walking, cycling and bus journeys along Hills Road have progressed to the next stage
Our Executive Board yesterday gave the green light for further detailed design and modelling work on proposals to enhance active travel journeys along Hills Road, including further options to improve the Lensfield Road/Gonville Place junction.
A second option for the junction was developed after the public highlighted the need for upgrades to be made to the junction during a consultation held last year. This option would mean vehicles could no longer turn right into Hills Road or turn left out of Hills Road and Regent Street.
This new design option would reduce crossing distances and create extra space to improve safety for all users of the junction.
A further public consultation on the scheme will be held in the autumn 2024 once technical work has been completed. These technical investigations will look at how the proposals would impact surrounding roads such as potential displacement on to Brooklands Avenue, and what further mitigations are required.
This work will include the existing options for the Lensfield Road/Gonville Place junction.
Cllr Mike Davey, member of the GCP’s Executive Board and Leader of Cambridge City Council, said:
“There was a lot of good feedback that came from an earlier consultation last summer and we’re looking to incorporate that in any future developments for the junction. The board agreed that a further technical exercise will be carried out to look at the improvements that have been proposed followed by a new consultation.
“We are very keen to make sure everyone in the city - pedestrians, residents, and motorists - get a better deal from what happens at that junction and along Hills Road. I hope everyone will be part of that discussion and consultation later this year.”
The findings from the public consultation would be presented to the Executive Board in winter 2024/25 when a decision would be expected to be made on the next steps.
The wider proposals for Hills Road include the retention of bus lanes, better active travel links and a new Cycle Optimised Protected Signals (CYCLOPS) junction at Station Road.
The Hills Road scheme is part of the GCP’s Cycling Plus programme which aims to improve and extend active travel links to encourage more people to walk and cycle around the city.
You can watch the Executive Board meeting back in full on the GCP’s YouTube channel.