Council leader apologies in advance for upcoming Peterborough Queensgate traffic woes

Dr Shabina Qayyum took the opportunity to acknowledge how disruptive the scheduled works are likely to be as she addressed colleagues at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday, July 1.

“Works will get underway next week for the City Link project, the first phase of the £65m scheme to breathe new life into our railway station, and the land around it,” she explained.

“There will be disruption for people while the works are taking place,” she added.

“We’re sorry about that; we cannot avoid that.”

Beginning on July 6, the works will see the Queensgate Roundabout – one of the busiest in the entire city – reduced to just one lane for around a year.

The lane closure will enable the subway underneath the roundabout to be filled in with more than a thousand tonnes of concrete, and accommodate other landscaping works to regenerate the area.

Cllr Qayyum said the council would be monitoring the project as it progresses to see if traffic congestion can be alleviated at times:

“We will look at how we can flex and adapt during the works to keep disruption to a minimum,” she said.

The Labour leader offered some straightforward advice for motorists who are likely to be navigating that part of the city centre after July 6:

“We’re asking people to leave extra time for their journeys and avoid the area if possible”

While the councillor acknowledged the short-term headaches the work will create, she encouraged Peterborians to consider the bigger picture

“This project will transform our city centre and create a more welcoming and safer route from the train station,” she said.

“Please support this game-changing, once-in-a-generation, re-generation project for our city.”