Consultation Being Held on Uxbridge Road Cycling Measures
Dual carriageway being reduced to single lanes near Ealing Hospital
Existing cycling infrastructure on the Uxbridge Road to be upgraded
Ealing Council are asking residents to respond to a consultation on a range of measures to accommodate more cycling along the Uxbridge Road.
Cyclists will be separated from all other traffic, including buses and pedestrians, by introducing segregated cycle lanes protected by ‘wands’ – flexible posts fixed to the road along almost the whole route.
The changes are being proposed on the stretch of the road which is largely dual carriageway between Hanwell and Southall, passing Ealing Hospital.
The council says that, although the measures may result in parts of this road being reduced from two lanes each way to one it is not anticipated that the flow of traffic will be significantly impacted. This is because it is already constricted in the centres of Hanwell and Southall so the two lanes each way on this stretch represent unused capacity.
The consultation report states that 80% of all trips taken along this corridor are by bus and therefore the impact on bus travel times will be monitored closely to ensure there has been no negative impact during the trial implementation of this scheme. Changes will be made if it is found buses are being delayed significantly.
Monitoring of the scheme will be undertaken jointly by Ealing and TfL and, depending on the outcomes, a decision will then be made on making the scheme permanent or removing it.
Existing bus stops will remain but some will become ‘floating island’ bus stops, which are separated from the pavement by the cycle lane and are reached by a short zebra crossing. This allows cyclists to pass stopped buses without having to share space with general motor traffic or with pedestrians.
An example of a floating island bus stop
The exits from Windmill Lane and Greenford Road will be reduced from two lanes each way to one. As only small vehicles can make the left and right turns without occupying both lanes this is anticipated to have minimal impact.
The council says that access to all dwellings and industrial sites along the route will be maintained as it is now but waiting and loading on the carriageway will no longer be possible.
The proposed changes are as follows:
• Upgrading and bringing back into general use the cycle track on the north side between Park View Road and Longford Avenue
• Wand-protected cycle lanes (eastbound) between Longford Avenue and Hanwell Bridge wherever possible
• Wand-protected cycle lanes (westbound) between Hanwell Bus Gate and the west end of Southall Park
• ‘Floating’ bus stops (see plans), also known as bus boarders, with cyclists passing on the footway side of the bus, clear of boarding and alighting passengers, at existing bus stop locations
• Relocated westbound to eastbound U-turn for general traffic near Lyndhurst Avenue, with short extension to eastbound bus lane
• Two lanes each way for general traffic between the U-turn points (except under Iron Bridge), and one general traffic lane elsewhere
• Wand spacing generally 6 metres. Longer gaps between wands where required for access to off-road parking
You can give comments on the scheme by responding to an online survey before 24 July.
After responses have been considered a decision will be made as to whether or not to proceed with the scheme and if any changes are needed. If approval is given then construction should be completed by late Autumn.
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July 1, 2021