Comprehensive road safety measures to be introduced at Battersea Bridge

Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport Jenny Yates has welcomed confirmation that a comprehensive package of road safety measures is to be introduced on both sides of Battersea Bridge.

Transport for London has unveiled details of a scheme designed to enhance safety for cyclists and pedestrians on both the northern and southern ends of the bridge.

On the southern side the following safety measures will be introduced:

• A new push-button pedestrian crossing on Battersea Bridge Road at Hester Road

• A bus gate, which would continue to improve bus journey times for buses travelling northwards

• A new pedestrian crossing at the Battersea Bridge Road / Battersea Church Road junction

• An extended bus lane from Banbury Street northwards on Battersea Bridge Road to improve bus journey times

• Reconfigured crossing points at the junction of Battersea Bridge Road with Prince of Wales Drive, widening pavements, removing the existing traffic island and building two new pedestrian crossings

• Banning the right turn from Battersea Bridge Road into Parkgate Road and the left turn into the B305 to improve safety for people walking and cycling, including an "all green man" phase at the junction, and to help bus journey times

TfL has already completed a set of safety measures on the north side of the bridge following a fatal collision in January 2021 which includes a new pedestrian crossing, wider pavements and a lower speed limit of 20mph. Those safety improvements will now be enhanced with the following additional measures on the northern side of the bridge:

• New, straight-across, push-button pedestrian crossings on Cheyne Walk, Chelsea Embankment and Beaufort Street

• Making improvements for cyclists at the junction by installing dedicated cycle signals and a section of segregated cycle track

• A new section of westbound bus lane from Royal Hospital Road to the bus stop at Beaufort Street to ensure bus journey times in the area are maintained

• Banning the left turn into Beaufort Street for a small number of vehicles, to reduce delays and wait times at the turning point, and to improve safety and eliminate the risk of left turning vehicles colliding with cyclists. Cyclists will still be able to access Beaufort Street via a shared use footway

Jenny Yates said: “The changes are part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero action plan to eliminate death and serious injury from London's roads and once fully implemented these changes will play an important role in reducing road danger and make it safer for people to walk and cycle near Battersea Bridge.

“Key results from the TfL consultation held earlier this year found that a clear majority of respondents said they expected the changes to lead to more people travelling by bike and on foot, while around half of those who took part said more people were likely to use public transport. Enabling more people to use healthier and more sustainable forms of travel is vital to reducing congestion and air pollution and fully aligns with the council’s 'Future Streets' travel and transport policies.”

Penny Rees, TfL's Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: "Every death and serious injury on London’s roads is unacceptable and we're determined to make them safer for everyone. We are committed to Vision Zero, the Mayor's goal to eliminate death and serious injury from the transport network, and these changes will play a vital role in reducing danger at these key junctions.”