Plans for safety improvements on Westminster Bridge proposed

Transport for London (TfL) are consulting on plans that will see improved cycle facilities, with an option for segregated lanes on Westminster Bridge, a new pedestrian crossing and a cycle and pedestrian-friendly junction at the southern end of the bridge.

The plans will create safer cycle links from Waterloo station and south London to the East-West Cycle Superhighway, which is currently under construction.

A high quality cycle route will be provided from Waterloo to Parliament Square, the Embankment, Marble Arch, Paddington, Blackfriars and the City.

There would also be a link to the new “Central London Grid” cycle route along the South Bank.

A new pedestrian crossing on the south-east arm of the Westminster Bridge South roundabout by the Park Plaza hotel, segregated cycle lanes, and separate traffic signals for cyclists at the junction, reducing conflict with motor vehicles, where most serious cyclist collisions occur.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: “London is rapidly changing and that is why we are modernising our roads to keep pace with it. We can turn a potentially hazardous junction into a safer place for cyclists and pedestrians by redesigning this area.

“Our proposed safety improvements would benefit Londoners and commuters of London’s busiest railway station, Waterloo, who would have better walking and cycling links to and from the station.”

The safety improvements will see a new pedestrian crossing on the south-east arm of the Westminster Bridge South roundabout by the Park Plaza hotel, segregated cycle lanes, and separate traffic signals for cyclists at the junction, reducing conflict with motor vehicles, where most serious cyclist collisions occur.

Andrew Gilligan, the Mayor’s Cycling Commissioner, commented: “This is one of the Mayor’s Better Junction schemes to vastly improve another of London’s trickiest big junctions.

“After completion of this scheme, our intention is segregated lanes on Westminster Bridge Road to fill the short quarter-mile gap between it and the North-South Superhighway on St George’s Road.

“You would then be able to cycle on fully-segregated or traffic-free routes from Paddington, Marble Arch and Hyde Park Corner to Elephant and Castle.”

Subject to a public consultation, work could start as early next summer.

The post Plans for safety improvements on Westminster Bridge proposed appeared first on UK Construction Online.