Published: Thursday 12 January 2023
Further safety improvements could come in soon for Battersea Bridge, with Transport for London consulting on new pedestrian crossings. Residents can have their say on measures until Tuesday 24 January 2023. This consultation follows an early engagement exercise in summer 2022 for changes on the north side of the bridge, which had 300 responses.
The Council has submitted a response to the consultation after hearing from residents and resident associations in the local area. The response asks for works to be completed in phases, prioritising the pedestrian crossings and the protected lane westbound for cyclists. The Council has asked that other proposed changes, such as banning the left turn onto Beaufort Street, are part of a later phase when there is evidence of real time traffic impacts.
Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning, place and environment, said:
“For years local people have been asking for a safer Battersea Bridge – our borough’s most dangerous junction – so after much local campaigning it is welcome that TFL is finally listening and seeking to introduce safer pedestrian crossings.
“We have asked them to focus on the safety improvements that we all want first and foremost. The bus lane is proposed to run for just under 600 metres and by TFL’s own admission could significantly increase traffic queues, further polluting nearby streets. So we ask that real traffic impacts are monitored to make sure it’s necessary before introducing this and the banned turn on Beaufort Street.”
At the northern end of the bridge, Transport for London is proposing to:
- Introduce new straight-across push button pedestrian crossings on Cheyne Walk, Chelsea Embankment and Beaufort Street.
- Ban the left turn into Beaufort Street.
- Provide dropped kerbs and a shared use area on the northwest corner for cyclists.
- Dedicated cycle signals at the junction and a section of segregated cycle track on the westbound approach.
- Build a new westbound bus lane from Royal Hospital Road to Battersea Bridge.
- Build a new 24-hour eastbound bus lane from the junction of Beaufort Street to just west of Old Church Street.
Further measures are also being proposed for the south of the bridge in Wandsworth.
Read more on the TfL website and respond to the consultation.