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

New traffic lights will be installed at the junction with Thorpe Lea Road, incorporating a pedestrian crossing across Thorpe Road. The work will also remove the existing layby and relocate the bus stop, which will gain a new bus shelter.

Improvements will also be made to the crossing points at the junction of Thorpe Road and Midland Road. In addition new parking bays will be installed on Midland Road.

Councillor Peter Hiller, cabinet member for growth, planning, housing and economic development, said: “These improvements are being made in advance of the redevelopment of the former district hospital site and ahead of the opening of the new primary school.

“We need to ensure that the traffic continues to flow well along this important access road to the city centre, particularly when these developments are complete.

“The scheme is not being funded by the council and is being paid for partly by the Local Enterprise Partnership and partly by payments from developers under Section 106 community contributions. It’s great that we can use this kind of funding for these important works.”

With a cost of £460,000, the work is due to finish in the summer.

For a certain time Thorpe Lea Road and Midland Road will be closed to through traffic. These closures will be communicated to local residents well in advance and diversions will be signposted.

At other times lane closures and temporary traffic signals will be in operation on Thorpe Road, but only during off-peak periods.

Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, deputy leader at the city council and ward councillor for West ward said: “These works are also in response to requests for improvements from local businesses and residents, namely the Thorpe Gate Residents’ Association.

“Clearly Thorpe Road is an important access road for the city, and any works will have an impact on both residents locally and those that use the route to reach the city centre.

“I have been involved at every step to ensure that the disruption is kept to a minimum throughout, and to make sure that people living in the area are well informed about what’s happening.”

Improvements to traffic signage, street lighting and road markings on Thorpe Road will be included in the scheme.