More plans to ban vehicles in Tottenham Court Road area
Further plans to transform the Tottenham Court Road have been unveiled by Camden Council ahead of the opening of the new Crossrail station in 2018.
Taxis, along with other vehicles, except buses and cyclists (of course!) will be banned from Tottenham Court Road, Monday to Saturday from 8am to 7pm. From 8am-7pm, Monday to Saturday local access for cars, taxis and loading would be allowed on short sections of Tottenham Court Road via side roads. Gower Street and Bloomsbury Street will be two-way for all vehicles, with protected cycle lanes in both directions.
The protected cycle lanes would separate cyclists from traffic using ‘light segregation’ – rubber blocks sometimes called ‘armadillos’, similar to those recently used on Royal College Street. All parking will be removed from Gower Street and Bloomsbury Street (loading bays would be available on Gower Street between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Sunday) and the road will raised to the same level as the pavement, in certain areas, to slow traffic. New Oxford Street will get new diagonal crossings at the junction of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street and again the road raised to the same level as the pavement, in certain areas, to slow traffic. The project will replace the one-way system on Tottenham Court Road and Gower Street with two-way tree-lined streets, which say Camden Council will help cut traffic and congestion in the area, reduce pollution and accidents, and make bus journeys quicker.
The project will also create four new public spaces, including a new pedestrianised plaza at the foot of Centre Point next to the new Crossrail station. In addition, a new park will be built in Alfred Place. Camden is currently seeking views on the proposals, with a public consultation until 18 July 2014.
Visit camden.gov.uk/westendproject to find out more. Councillor Phil Jones, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Transport comments: “Our ambitious West End Project will transform the Tottenham Court Road area into one of London’s premier commercial, cultural and academic districts. We’re aiming to make journeys quicker and safer, as well as creating a more attractive place for people to enjoy. We want to hear from local residents and businesses as part of our consultation to help us deliver a project which everyone can benefit from.”
The results of the consultation will be presented to a Council Cabinet meeting in late 2014, where a decision will be made on the project. If the project is approved by Councillors, construction will begin in early 2015 and be completed by 2018, subject to technical details and funding. Courtesy of Taxicabnews
