Explainer: The impact on pedestrians and motorists of a £5 million overhaul of the Queensgate roundabout
Hundreds of pedestrians and cyclists will have a safer and more enjoyable experience getting across Peterborough’s Queensgate roundabout with the transformation of what is one of the city’s major traffic intersections.
A £5 million overhaul of the Queensgate roundabout will see the end of two of its three dismal subways, a new user-friendly crossing into Cowgate, pedestrian and cycle ways across a realigned path on a raised ground level.
The Queensgate roundabout is among the busiest interchanges in the city with huge volumes of cars, lorries and buses pouring in from all parts of the city along both carriageways of Bourges Boulevard.
Also linking into the roundabout is the busy Thorpe Road.
Much of the traffic is drawn to the train station car park and the Queensgate Shopping Centre car parks and bus station which abut the roundabout.
But the year-long overhaul of the Queensgate roundabout, which is due to start next month, is expected to provide a more tranquil experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
A new raised pedestrian and cycle path, which will be aligned more directly with the entrance to Cowgate, will be bordered either side with more trees, shrubs and stone walling.
There will be a user-friendly walking and cycling surface.
While entrance to the roundabout from the Queensgate end will still be via the existing underpass, the surrounding land will be widened to reduce the sense of narrowness.
As users move along the route, they will no longer be deterred by the existing small underpass to the right that faces the railway car park.
That subway will be filled in with concrete as will the subway at the Cowgate entrance. The existing stone steps will also disappear.
In its place, users will find the ground level has been raised and pedestrians will walk out on to a newly created, wide crossing area.
This will be fitted with the latest road crossing technology to ensure safe and easy access from the Queensgate roundabout into Cowgate and Priestgate.
Officers at Peterborough City Council, which is overseeing the works, say that many people have complained about feeling uneasy and put off by the dismal and dark subways.
For motorists, the key change, once the works are complete, will be the new road crossing signals at the Cowgate entrance.
In addition, the traffic lanes on the eastern side of the Queensgate roundabout, which goes past the bus station and Cowgate exits, will reduce from three to two.
The transformation of the Queensgate roundabout is the first phase of the £65 million Station Quarter regeneration.
Part of the second phase of the plans will be the creation of a new Station Square that will link into the Queensgate roundabout.
From a newly orientated station entrance it will be possible to walk directly to Cowgate.