New Designs Announced For Two Sections of CS9

Cycle path altered near Kew Bridge and by Dukes Avenue junction

New design for CS9 near Kew Bridge

Transport for London (TfL) have released details of their revised designs for Cycle Superhighway 9 with two significant changes to the original design.

Firstly there have been alterations to the layout in the section between Duke Road and Dukes Avenue in Chiswick and secondly a new two way segregated path has been introduced on the stretch between Kew Bridge and Wellesley Road.

They are now holding a second consultation into the revised plans with other sections of the route remaining broadly unchanged. Construction on the route is planned to start later in the year, subject to formal approvals by Hounslow and Hammersmith and Fulham councils, with the route expected to be complete in 2021.

The existing pavement on Dukes Avenue outside Our Lady of Grace and St Edward Church is to be retained. The cycle track in this section is to be accommodated by removing the right turn lane from Chiswick High Road into Duke’s Avenue.

The cycle path now goes outside the line of trees between Dukes Avenue and Heathfield Terrace with the number of lanes of general traffic being reduced to one westbound in this section. Double yellow lines will replace single yellows and a loading bay will be introduced near Gail's Bakery narrowing the pavement at this section. Dukes Avenue will be entry only at the junction with Chiswick High Road with the road at this point reduced to a single lane eastbound and no right turns allowed from this direction and right turns out of Duke Road will be forbidden except for cyclists.

Traffic would be able to use Annandale Road to exit east onto Chiswick High Road instead. TfL had previously proposed to reduce Annandale Road from two lanes to one at its junction with Chiswick High Road. They are now proposing to keep two lanes on exit at this junction to facilitate traffic that may be redirected from Duke Road.

They had also proposed four additional pay and display bays on the west side of Dukes Avenue. Following feedback from the consultation and discussions with Our Lady of Grace and St Edward Church they are no longer proposing these bays and will instead retain the existing single yellow line as this will provide more opportunity for parking for Church services. Additionally, one proposed space on the eastern side of Duke Road opposite Bourne Place has been removed to ensure vehicles can exit this junction.

This section had been controversial because the original design would have prevented the Church from holding weddings and funerals according to Parish Priest, Fr Michael Dunne.

He said, “I can now endorse the TfL consultation process. TfL has listened to the church community and in their revising proposals for the cycle route made very significant changes conscientiously and adequately addressing concerns both for the safety of church-goers and other pedestrians and the impeding of the practice of the faith. If the cycle lane cannot be re-routed away from Chiswick High Road altogether, TfL has proved to me that engaging in the consultation brings changes which benefit the community.”

CS9 Revised Route Between Duke Road and Dukes Avenue. Larger version

At Kew Bridge and throughout Kew Bridge Road, the new designs would provide two-way segregated cycle lanes on the south side of Kew Bridge Road and South Circular Road, rather than the partially segregated cycle tracks on both sides of the road that were proposed in the earlier consultation designs. This change will ensure that people cycling are fully segregated from traffic throughout this section and it also removes the requirement for two bus stop bypasses. The change also addresses concerns raised about cycle safety at Kew Bridge junction, Green Dragon Lane and Lionel Road South. The new consultation will also propose a second southbound traffic lane on Kew Bridge to improve the efficiency of the Kew Bridge junction. In addition, the changes will make crossings wider, with cyclists signalled separately from conflicting traffic at the Kew Bridge junction.

TfL and Hammersmith and Fulham Council have also agreed to look into a new cycle path along the A4, between Hammersmith Town Hall and the Hammersmith gyratory. This is in addition to creating a new segregated two-way cycle route along the A315 (King Street) and the changes along the A4 represent additional investment and provide connections for people on bikes or on foot south of the gyratory and to Hammersmith Bridge.

The updated consultation report has been published with more information on the breakdown of responses by location. The consultation on the original design in 2017 received more than 5,000 responses, with nearly 60 per cent of respondents supporting the scheme. The new report shows that 56% of Hounslow Borough residents either opposed or strongly opposed the original design with 40% in favour. In Hammersmith and Fulham borough there was a similar percentage in favour of the scheme as opposed it in Hounslow but just over half the number of responses. The highest number of responses came from residents of London boroughs not on the route with 81% of them supportive or strongly supportive of the plan.

Michael Robinson, Co-ordinator, Hounslow Cycling Campaign, said, “We welcome the new plans for this vital cycle route and are pleased that TfL has listened to local responses. The changes will help link the town centres of Chiswick and Brentford and rebalance their high streets away from motor vehicle traffic in favour of people walking and cycling. This will enhance the environment and improve safety for all. We hope that TfL and the London Boroughs of Hounslow, and Hammersmith and Fulham will proceed with these plans as soon as possible. We look forward to local people of all ages being able to benefit from healthier streets once this long overdue project is completed.”

Ben Plowden, TfL’s Director of Strategy and Network Development, said, “We will continue to work towards starting construction later this year to build on both boroughs’ efforts to create healthy streets in this part of London.”

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council, said, “Hounslow Council is committed to improving facilities for cyclists between our town centres which will help reduce collisions, improve air quality and encourage more physical activity which assists in reducing a number of health issues related to inactivity. This new cycle route could help us achieve that goal. We are encouraged that TfL has worked so hard to try and address issues with the original scheme raised by our residents in the first consultation. We urge people to engage again with this new consultation, the results from which the council will consider later in the year when we take a decision on this first phase of the route.”

Tony Arbour the local London Assembly member said, “As a keen cyclist, I entirely appreciate the importance of enabling people to cycle around London safely and easily. But Sadiq Khan’s proposals for CS9 are not acceptable to my constituents and the consultation process has been a shambles.

“The Mayor has consistently shown a stubborn unwillingness to work with Chiswick residents and change his deeply inadequate plans for CS9. Instead, he is failing to listen and ploughing on regardless”.

The consultation on the revised designs for two sections of the route is now open and will run until 26 February. Responses can be submitted online at tfl.gov.uk/kew-duke, by post or by e-mail.

February 3, 2019