Over £6 million to help cut journey times in Bedfordshire
Over £6 million from the Levelling Up Fund will improve the roundabout at the busy A6 and A507 junction. This will reduce queues and cut journey times for commutes.
High traffic volumes in Bedfordshire
Clophill roundabout is known for long queues of traffic, particularly at peak times.
There have been high volumes of:
- east-west (A507) traffic
- north-south (A6) traffic
The layouts of the roads heighten the problem.
Roundabout improvements for motorists
The improved roundabout scheme will create 2 entry and exit lanes on all arms of the roundabout.
This will allow more vehicles to use the roundabout at any one time and improve traffic flow.
This scheme will make a difference to motorists by:
- reducing time on the road, especially during rush hour
- improving layout to provide more capacity
Roundabout improvements for pedestrians and cyclists
New signalised crossings (also known as toucan crossings) will be introduced for pedestrians and cyclists on all four arms of the roundabout.
The new crossing facilities will:
- make journeys easier for pedestrians and cyclists moving around Clophill
- improve access to local facilities, retail, and employment opportunities
Enhancements will also be made to walking and cycling routes close to the junction. This will provide a boost to green travel options in the area.
Councillor Kevin Collins, Executive Member for Planning and Regeneration, said:
This important project will ease congestion and reduce journey times, particularly at peak times, and this will benefit road users and residents.
The scheme supports our sustainability agenda with the smoother flowing traffic reducing CO2 emissions and the four toucan crossings and the new and improved footways making it easier and safer for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy more active travel.
Feedback on the project
The consultation reported comments from residents and users such as:
I agree totally with these proposals for the changed layout, it has been needed for many years since the increased traffic flow east west from the Milton Keynes area of large warehouses and the increased traffic flow from both north and south on the A6
This new lay out will improve traffic flows in all directions and should cut waiting times and CO2 emissions
On the wider features of the scheme, The Greensand Trust said,
We welcome the principle of the proposals on the basis of them resulting in an improvement in accessibility of the wider off-road network for a range of users of all abilities.
Find out more about levelling up.