More disruption for motorists expected in new multi-million pound redevelopment of Bourges Boulevard

Bourges Boulevard now open EMN-150721-221158009

A muliti-million scheme could mean more difficulties for drivers with works to begin between Crescent Bridge roundabout and Bishop’s Road in the next four years.

Final details have not yet been revealed but one proposal is for the creation of a signalised junction by Bourges Boulevard/Viersen Platz (next to Asda), including pedestrian crossing facilities over both roads.

New works near Bourges Boulevard, including the installation of traffic lights in Thorpe Road at the junction with Thorpe Lea Road, which will incorporate a pedestrian crossing across Thorpe Road, will begin in the next few months.

Last July, a year-long £4.5 million scheme to improve Bourges Boulevard between the Crescent Bridge roundabout and the roundabout by the Volunteer Fire Brigade finally finished two months after its due completion date.

The works caused long traffic jams but were said to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to travel into and out of the city centre with two pedestrian crossings.

The latest Bourges Boulevard “improvements” are expected to begin in the 2018/19 financial year after Peterborough City Council successfully secured £15.5 million of grant funding from the Greater Cambridgeshire Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership which bids for government money.

The money, which will also be used for a capacity improvement scheme at Junction 20 of the A47 (by the Norwood and Paston Reserve development sites) gives the council four years for both projects to be completed.

Bourges Boulevard Phase 2 details are incorporated in the latest city Local Transport Plan which the council cabinet has recommended be adopted on Wednesday (January 27) at a meeting of the full council.

The plan states: “Bourges Boulevard and Crescent Bridge roundabout present a major barrier to movement between the retail core and the river, therefore presenting a barrier to the future development of the city.”

It adds: “The proposed scheme will unlock congestion and significantly reduce delay at several critical city centre locations, improving the operational performance of the city centre network, particularly from Crescent Bridge roundabout to Rivergate roundabout.

“These improvements, along with public realm improvements along the corridor, will facilitate identified housing and economic growth and contribute toward the redevelopment of the city centre.”

Other possible works for the new scheme include the refurbishment of paving and streetscape along Lower Bridge Street and the Bridge Street

pedestrian crossing, as well as the creation of two lanes eastbound along Bishop’s Road between Rivergate roundabout and Bishop’s Road roundabout, in addition to one lane westbound.

Also being considered is the widening of the southern footpath along Bishop’s Road (between the Rivergate roundabout and Bishop’s Road roundabout) to become shared space and accommodate cyclists.

Other recent works from the council include the widening of the A1139 Fletton Parkway - which required £4.5 million of extra funding due to unforeseen contaminated soil and other complications - and a £2 million regeneration of Long Causeway.

Contaminated soil and new works land city council with £4.5 million roads bill

Work to install art in Long Causeway to begin

Works to make Peterborough road safer ahead of school opening to begin

Peterborough’s proposed new Local Transport Plan