This post is the second in a regular series of updates about Camden’s progress with building cycle infrastructure.
Click on any image to see an enlargement
Progress on major projects under construction
Tavistock Place
Camden is currently working on a project to replace the orcas on the westbound cycle track with kerbs, to widen the footway wherever possible and to upgrade all the junctions between Tottenham Court Road and Judd Street. The junction with Tottenham Court Road was upgraded a few months ago. The replacement of Orcas with kerbs is proceeding eastwards and has reached Woburn Place; it has recently been resurfaced and is very nice to ride. See this Video by @BobFromAccounts.
Tavistock Place junction with Bedford Way
A significant upgrade has just been completed at the junction with Bedford Way – Tavistock Square. Before this upgrade there was a significant risk to westbound cycles from eastbound motors turning right across their path as they crossed the junction (there was a serious casualty here in 2018-21 in which the front of a cycle was hit by the front of a van). Also no vehicles (including cycles) were allowed to turn into Tavistock Square*. In the new junction design, east- and westbound cyclists are provided with a dedicated signal stage in which no other traffic crosses the junction; this allows them to make all possible manoeuvres
Note also that the footway has been widened on three of the four corners of this junction.
*The signals just replaced were put in when the two-way cycle track was built in 2002. See StreetView from 2008.
Chalk Farm Road
The pop-up cycle lanes were installed from Hawley Street all the way up to the junction with Prince of Wales Road in Spring 2021. They are protected by flexible bollards which are soon to be replaced with stepped tracks as part of the permanent scheme which also promises a major redesign of the junction with Adelaide Road.
Work has started at the southern end opposite Hawley Street. The bus stop bypass island has been extended at both ends to provide planting areas.
On the southbound side between Harmood Street and Hartland Road there are promising signs of a continuous footway junction and a new bus stop bypass with planting areas at each end.
I look forward to showing new photos of the completed works in a later post.
Finishing touches and smaller projects
Estelle Road parallel crossing
A parallel crossing over Mansfield Road between Estelle Road and a cut-through to Elaine Grove was installed in Summer 2021. This replaced an existing zebra crossing and motor vehicles were forbidden to enter Estelle Road from Mansfield Road. See our post about the role of this crossing on the route to Hampstead Heath.
As part of making it permanent, the crossing has been raised and widened; and the approaches have been improved.
Greening of Phoenix Road
Phoenix Road is on the route of the Euston Wellbeing Walk and the C41 cycle route.
A new trial ban on through-motor -traffic on Phoenix Road between Chalton Street and Werrington Street is implemented on an 18-month ETO with bollards and planters full of blossoming spring flowers.
This is perhaps the most beautiful road closure we have seen.
End Note
Keeping track of the many work sites in Camden is quite a lot of work. We would very much appreciate it if anyone living close to one of these sites would volunteer to let us know when things make progress – send an email to this address
