The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has opened the UK's first ‘cycle street' to the public as the £2m project nears completion.

Started last October, the project has seen the GCP redesign Adams Road, one of the city's busiest cycle routes, to prioritise walking and cycling, with changes including the removal of most on-street parking, redesigned junctions that will slow traffic, raised crossings and wider footpaths to improve safety and accessibility.

Designed to give cyclists greater priority, cycle streets have cars travelling at the same speed as cyclists.

The GCP had previously stated that, once works were completed, it planned to install ‘a limited number of marked parking bays' that would be included for residents via the Wilberforce area resident parking scheme.

Changes to the road include:

  • Altering the existing road layout by widening both sides of the footways to ensure there is enough room for people walking.
  • Resurfacing all footways and the entire road.
  • Adding planting areas along the road's edge with the required drainage.
  • Improving the existing signalised junction of Grange Road.
  • Construction of a new raised table junction at Adams Road/Sylvester Road.
  • The addition of uncontrolled crossings along Adams Road.

Cllr Brian Milnes, chair of the GCP, said: ‘We've heard too many stories of cyclists being knocked off their bikes and car doors suddenly opening into their path, while elderly and vulnerable residents have to step into the road just to get around bins or parked cars. That shouldn't be the reality on one of Cambridge's busiest cycling routes. This project is about putting people first — making everyday journeys safer and easier for everyone.'

The newly redesigned road will also feature rain gardens and new green planting to help ‘manage rainwater, reduce flooding, support pollinators, and boost biodiversity'.

Jonathan Camp, GCP project manager, added: ‘We're delighted that Adams Road is open for use: it's a significant milestone in the progression of the Comberton Greenway. We may still need to temporarily close parts of Adams Road while the last remaining work is carried out.'

The final remaining work on the project – the painting of road markings – is expected to be completed ‘in the coming weeks'.