Majority back plans to make Hammersmith gyatory safer

An artist`s impression of the proposals at the Hammersmith gyratory junction with Shepherd`s Bush Road (looking West)

Nearly eight out of ten people support plans to improve cyclist safety at the notorious Hammersmith gyratory. A Transport for London (TfL) consultation found that 79% of respondents backed plans for dedicated cycling crossings, improved pedestrian facilities and a new bus lane.

The kerb-segregated two-way route for cyclists will remove the need to cycle around the gyratory, mixing with fast-moving traffic, and will break a key barrier to cycling in west London, says TfL.

The changes are now set to go ahead though TfL says it will investigate retaining a pedestrian crossing between the south side of Hammersmith Broadway and Shepherd's Bush Road following consultation feedback. Construction is set to start next summer completion by the summer of 2018.

The transformation of Hammersmith gyratory will include:

* A 750m segregated two-way cycle track on the north side of Hammersmith gyratory

* New eastbound cycle track along King Street, to enable onward connections on the A315 corridor

* Eight cyclist-specific signals at junctions to separate cyclists and motorised vehicles

* Pedestrian countdown signals at the crossings of King Street, Beadon Road, Shepherd's Bush Road, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith Road and Butterwick

* Widened sections of footway on King Street to provide more space for pedestrians

* A new bus lane on Beadon Road between Glenthorne Road and Hammersmith Broadway to improve bus reliability.

Deputy Mayor for Transport, Val Shawcross, says: "These improvements to the Hammersmith gyratory will benefit cyclists, bus users, drivers and pedestrians. It's an important and busy junction that needs to be made safer for the thousands of people who use it every day.

"For cyclists in particular, the changes will mean not having to cycle directly round the gyratory alongside other traffic, making a big difference to their safety.

"The changes to the gyratory have to work for everyone and we've asked TfL to continue to work with local residents and look closely at the lessons from previous schemes to minimise disruption when the changes are made."

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, says: "We have listened carefully to local residents and businesses and will deliver a whole range of improvements to redesign the intimidating gyratory and encourage more walking and cycling through Hammersmith.

"We will also work hard to find a way of keeping a signalised pedestrian crossing across Hammersmith Broadway.

"The gyratory is currently a serious barrier to cyclists and removing this block from riding through Hammersmith and improving pedestrian facilities will help transform the area."

Director of HammersmithLondon BID, (Business Improvement District), Patricia Bench, says: "As a cyclist, navigating the Hammersmith gyratory can be a daunting prospect so we are very happy that Transport for London has listened to local residents and businesses, the people who use this junction on a daily basis, to form their proposals.

"The BID is a strong advocate of green transport so a safer and more accessible gyratory will encourage more people to cycle to work and will have a beneficial impact on the area, together with new bicycle infrastructure to help cater for the increasing numbers of commuter cyclists.

"HammersmithLondon will continue to work closely with TfL to keep businesses informed as construction gets underway and help keep disruption to a minimum."

TfL is working with the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham to develop proposals for cycle improvements along the A315 corridor, which runs through Hammersmith gyratory.

These improvements would provide a continuous cycle route across the whole of the borough and are due for consultation next year. This route would form part of Cycle Superhighway 9, which is still in the early stages of design.

Find out more about the plans for Cycle Superhighway 9 at Transforming London’s Streets