Kingston reveals revised plans for Portsmouth Road

In the wake of a long-running public consultation, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames has released a revised set of plans for the regeneration of Portsmouth Road, which will concentrate on transport improvements.

The plans have been dubbed “Mini Holland”, on account of the focus on cycling provisions. These include a 600m stretch of fully segregated cycleways in two directions. In addition to this, a further 700m will be separated from other traffic with a structure known as an armadillo, which provides additional protection from the main road for cyclists.

The council’s chair of the Infrastructure, Projects and Contracts Committee and lead member for capital, projects and contracts, Richard Hudson, said that the new cycling arrangements were a response to the concerns of more than 700 people who responded to the initial consultation, many of whom wanted greater segregation between bikes and general traffic.

He explained: “There was a clear desire for more segregation between cyclists and motor vehicles and the new plans have increased this segregation from 20 per cent originally to 85 per cent now.

“We have a vision where cyclists, new and experienced, will feel safe and confident taking trips along Portsmouth Road, whether it be for work, study or pleasure. We want to create a route that is fully accessible and attractive to pedestrians and where motor traffic can continue to move freely.”

Other aspects of the plan include a toucan crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at the junction with Palace Road, and a series of floating bus stops. These will ensure that passengers have a safe space to wait in, and allow cyclists to move past buses picking up and dropping off, rather than waiting behind any stationary vehicles. It will also provide an efficient way for buses to use the road.
The toucan crossing has been designed to create a safe and practical link between the fully segregated and armadillo sections of the cycleways.

Published 23rd March, 2015

© 2015 Estates IT Limited