Completion of UK’s first Dutch-style roundabout delayed
Work on the UK’s first Dutch-style roundabout in Cambridge will now not be completed until “early summer”.
Construction started on the £800,000 roundabout at the junction of Fendon Road, Queen Edith’s Way and Mowbray Road on September 9, and was expected to last 29 weeks.
The delay has been blamed on additional significant utility work including problems with cabling and pipework.
Cambridgeshire County Council says contractors will be working weekends and longer days to ensure the work is finished as soon as possible.
From early April, the roundabout will be reopened to traffic with the exception of the Queen Edith’s arm to Hills Road where temporary traffic lights will remain.
Citi buses, which serve Addenbrooke’s Hospital, will return to their normal routes at the same time.
Councillor Ian Bates, chair of the county council’s economy and environment committee, said: “I’m pleased with how this project, which is a first not only for Cambridge but also the UK, is progressing and whilst there is a slight delay from spring to summer it would have been remiss of us not to let the utility companies take advantage of the opportunity to improve their network in the area.
“Ultimately, Addenbrooke’s, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Queen Edith businesses and residents will now benefit from an improved utility and cabling network and the road is less likely to be dug up again in the near future.
“The team have also worked hard with the contractors and Stagecoach to keep the buses moving while the work is carried out, so it’s good to hear journeys to and from Addenbrooke’s will go back to normal in early April.
“This project will improve the experience for everyone using the roundabout and our aim is to encourage more people to cycle more often, more safely and support healthy communities.”
Despite work identified by utility companies ahead of the start of the scheme, the full extent of what is required was not known until the project was under way.
This has resulted in additional work to re-route and divert cabling away from the centre of the roundabout and build new chambers.
In total, almost 700m of new ducting has been installed, a new telegraph pole built, more than 200m of ducting moved, new chambers constructed and six new water valves/fire hydrants built on the edges of the scheme.
Once the works are completed, cyclists will be given their own cycle path, in contrasting red surfacing, to give them equal priority with pedestrians over oncoming motorists.
Pedestrians will be provided with zebra crossings on all four entry and exit roads and at crossing points over the cycle paths.
The design of the roundabout will also encourage motorists to drive at a slower speed.
The county council secured £550,000 of funding from the Department for Transport in 2018 to create the roundabout.
Read more:
Anger at loss of bus route to Addenbrooke’s for 29 weeks as Dutch roundabout constructed
Addenbrooke’s Dutch roundabout plan spells ‘months of gridlock misery’
Long delays on buses to Addenbrooke’s Hospital as months of roadworks for Dutch roundabout begin
