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TfL unveils plans to build a major new cycleway in southeast London

Transport for London (TfL) has set out plans to overhaul one of southeast London’s most dangerous roads and make neighbourhoods between Greenwich and Woolwich much safer for people walking and cycling, as part of its Vision Zero commitment to eliminating death and serious injury on London’s roads.

Currently, road danger in the area is high, with 215 collisions leading to death or injury recorded along the A206 Woolwich Road in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, 18 per cent of all casualties on the road were people cycling.

TfL plans to tackle this and improve air quality in the area by building a new high quality 6.5km cycleway, which would run between Greenwich and Woolwich. This would connect to the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s future Liveable Neighbourhood plans for Greenwich town centre and to Cycleway 4 to create a continuous safe cycling route from Tower Bridge to Woolwich.

TfL is asking people to have their say on the first phase of this route, between Charlton and Woolwich, with plans including:

  • A new two-way, fully segregated high-quality 2.5km Cycleway, which would run along the A206 Woolwich Road
  • Six new pedestrian crossings with improvements to a number of others along the route, serving key local communities, schools, the Woolwich Ferry and Warspite Road, where a person walking was tragically killed in a collision in 2018
  • Extending the existing bus lanes to make journeys by bus quicker and easier. Half of all trips along Woolwich Road are currently made by bus
  • Widening the pavement at a number of locations, to give people walking more space

TfL is also working on significant improvements at the Angerstein roundabout, where two people have been killed while cycling in recent years. TfL is asking people for their initial thoughts on plans to simplify the junction and make it easier to navigate for everyone. This would effectively mean that the junction would no longer be a roundabout. There would be a new fully segregated cycleway through the junction, with new signals to help people walking and cycling navigate the junction safely and easily.

Currently, traffic levels on the road effectively mean that communities either side are split by the road. The changes would make it much easier for people to choose to walk, cycle and use public transport rather than travelling by car. There are two schools along the proposed route and the changes would make it easier and safer for people to get to school using sustainable forms of travel.

TfL’s consultation into the first 2.5km of the route, between Charlton and Woolwich, is now open until 16 February and is available on the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk/greenwich-woolwich. A further consultation on the section between Charlton and Greenwich will follow later in the year.

London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: “I’m delighted that we’re pushing ahead with these bold plans - part of a new high-quality cycle route from Tower Bridge all the way to the heart of Woolwich. With additional pedestrian crossings and a new bus lane, the route will be made better and safer for everyone. The area around Angerstein roundabout has seen two fatalities in recent years, and we will continue to work closely with Greenwich Council to deliver these vital improvements as soon as possible.”

Danny Thorpe, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “This is great news for Greenwich as the proposed cycleway will make cycling and walking a much safer and convenient way for residents to travel in the area. We all have a part to play in achieving our goals of improved air quality and protecting the environment, by making more sustainable choices. I encourage all residents to take part in the consultation as their feedback is vital, as is their involvement in helping us achieve these goals.”

If you would like to contact Andy Walker about this, or any other story, please email awalker@infrastructure-intelligence.com.