Combined Authority votes £££s for safer A10 crossing at Ely

Combined Authority votes £££s for safer A10 crossing at Ely

In a vote for people’s safety, the Mayor and members of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Board have approved over half a million pounds to help make the A10/A142 safer for cyclists, walkers and riders at the BP Roundabout near Ely.

The Combined Authority’s own Transport & Infrastructure Committee had recommended the Board approve £550k to move work for a safer active traveller crossing to the next stage.

The money, from the active travel capital budget for 2024/25, will fund further scoping by Cambridgeshire County Council into the best safe crossing for the A10 at the roundabout near the BP fuel station and Lancaster Way Business Park just outside Ely.

The ‘BP Roundabout Crossing Study’, funded by the Combined Authority back in March, reports that the A10 not only impedes cyclists and pedestrians trying to move between Witchford village and Ely but prevents onward journeys to the south-west of Ely and beyond.

Shopping outlets on the west side of the Witchford Road roundabout junction, like the BP garage, Burger King, Starbucks, Travelodge hotel and the Lancaster Way Business Park attract people to cross near the roundabout but they cannot at present be reached without hazard.

“Making this busy junction as safe as possible for all road users is of vital importance. We want people to feel confident cycling, walking, riding, and wheeling so I’m delighted that the Board has voted to move this forward,” said Mayor of Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson.

The Study has outlined two options: a pedestrian and cyclist bridge, or the less costly non-bridge option of a signalised crossing.

In another move welcomed by the Mayor, the Board also approved putting the Combined Authority’s Draft 2024/25 Budget out to public consultation.

“Our draft budget contains a very welcome additional £3m for much-needed pedestrian safety measures at the A10’s BP Roundabout. That means we’d then have £6m available and would at last be able to do as resident-led campaigners have been calling for and make this junction safe for everyone,” said the Mayor.

The Draft Budget now goes out for a six-week Public Consultation where local people give their priorities in an important next step towards making the safer crossing a reality.

If the £3m allocated in the draft budget is supported by the public and is ultimately approved by the Board, it will provide enough additional money to top up the £3m in active travel funding for whichever crossing option is preferred.

The £550k approved this week by the Board will be used to identify and confirm the option to be taken forward.  Further work will also scope out the costs of each option, helping to inform the final decision.

Have Your Say in the Public Consultation