Published: Friday 19 August 2022
The Council has given feedback to Transport for London on early plans for improved safety measures at Battersea Bridge.
Early plans for improvements to Battersea Bridge include crossings on all four arms of the junction. Transport for London has been undertaking early engagement with local residents, resident groups and the Council on plans to make the junction safer.
The scheme outlined by TfL includes:
- Straight-across pedestrian crossings on all four arms of the junction (currently only the bridge arm has a pedestrian crossing).
- Banning the left turn from Chelsea Embankment/Cheyne Walk onto Beaufort Street.
- A westbound bus lane starting at the junction of Royal Hospital Road to Battersea Bridge.
- A shorter eastbound bus lane beginning after Battersea Bridge going towards Chelsea.
- •Signals separating cycles from traffic turning left onto Battersea Bridge, to improve cycle safety.
Cllr Cem Kemahli, lead member for planning, place and environment, said:
“There are ways that we think this scheme can be improved to keep traffic flowing, allow access for residents and protect pedestrians and cyclists. Residents and councillors have asked TfL to make the junction of Battersea Bridge and Chelsea Embankment safer for a long time and last year’s crossing on the southern section was a step in the right direction. It’s crucial that the whole junction is made safer as quickly as possible and plans for new crossings are a promising step forward for pedestrians and cyclists. We will keep working with TfL ahead of formal consultation in the autumn.”
The Council has responded to the early engagement exercise with the following feedback:
- Pedestrian crossings on all four arms of this junction will provide pedestrians with the facilities that they deserve.
- The banned left turn would mean more traffic on quieter Chelsea roads, especially as turning left is already banned at Chelsea Bridge and Chelsea Bridge Road.
- For Beaufort St residents, the only way to access the road from the south would be to first cross the river into Battersea.
- Only one bus travels along Chelsea Embankment, it’s not clear why this requires a lane. The case for the short section of eastbound bus lane seems very weak, since buses turning right off Battersea Bridge should have no queueing traffic ahead of them.
- A new signalling design should be considered to improve compliance with red lights on the left turn onto Battersea Bridge, to improve pedestrian and cycle safety.
Early engagement closed on 23 August 2022. The next stage of consultation is expected to take place in the autumn.
For more details and to have your say visit the TfL website.