Road Safety Improvements Start On The Greenwich Peninsula

* Cllr Denise Hyland

by our RBG Correspondent | Greenwich

Changes to improve the road layout and safety on a section of road on the Greenwich Peninsula have started after pressure from the Royal Borough of Greenwich and local residents.

The road layout on Greenwich Peninsula is unique, with a dedicated two-way bus-way, which falls under the responsibility of the Greater London Authority (GLA) running right next to a two-way road managed by the Royal Borough.

The bus-way was designed to standards that would allow it to be converted for use as a tram or guided bus-way, however, this never materialised and the bus-way currently provides a high-priority dedicated bus corridor to and from North Greenwich station.

However, after a number of traffic and pedestrian incidents – many involving buses - occurring on that section of road, the Council voiced its concerns to TfL, urging them to look at ways of improving road safety.

Working alongside TfL, the GLA and Police, the Council is progressing a number of actions to improve safety in the short and longer term. These improvements include:

* New zebra crossing: The introduction of a staggered, raised zebra crossing across the across the bus-way and West Parkside betweenGreenwich Millennium Village (GMV) and School Close (Millennium School) in the next few weeks. Preliminary works have started on site, with the cost of the zebra being shared between the Council and the GLA.

* Introduction of a new 20mph speed limit: The Council will introduce a 20mph speed limit on the bus-way and John Harrison Way in the next 3-5 weeks, subject to conclusion of the legal process. The speed limit will be introduced on an experimental basis.

* Changes to signage and road markings: Following a review of the route, a small number of changes to signage and road markings are also being made; the changes are designed to improve road users understanding of road hazards along the route. Work on the changes has started and should take 2-3 weeks to complete.

* Changing the bus-way: The Leader of Royal Greenwich wrote to the Deputy Mayor for London (Transport) asking for her support in removing the bus-way, replacing it with a simple dual-carriageway arrangement, to remove the ‘counter-intuitive’ arrangement in a way that will maintain bus priority and improve road safety.

The Deputy Mayor for London responded positively to the request and arranged for the Managing Director for TfL Surface Transport, Leon Daniels, to meet the Leader and Cabinet member on 27 January. At the meeting Mr Daniels advised that TfL have started a study of the options, including changing to a standard dual carriageway, and would share the results of the study during February.

Any changes to the bus-way will need to be integrated with approved plans that the developer (Knight Dragon) has to develop the Peninsula in the vicinity of North Greenwich station.

Councillor Denise Hyland, Leader of the Royal Borough, said: “I am pleased to have received a positive response from the Deputy Mayor for London. I am pleased also that a number of changes are already being progressed and that we have a commitment for TfL to take a serious look at the future of the bus-way."

“I commend local residents for being vocal in their views and am proud that together we have managed to achieve real progress.”

Councillor Danny Thorpe, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport said: “We too have been concerned and saddened by the news of recent incidents that have occurred on this stretch of road and it is high time that this situation is changed, so that everyone feels safer using this section of road. With a school also nearby, it is imperative that we take action now.”