Transport for London will today, October 21, begin work on Battersea Bridge that will improve its safety.
The work has been brought forward following the death of Jack Ryan, who was fatally hit by a Land Rover while jogging at the northern end of the bridge in January. A petition to improve safety on the bridge reached 25,000 signatures following the incident.
The safety upgrades at Battersea Bridge will include:
A signalised pedestrian crossing at the north side of the bridge
Expansion of the pavements on both sides of the road
A new stop line 12.5m further back from its existing position on the bridge
A ‘left turn only’ lane from Cheyne Walk onto Battersea Bridge Road
24-hour enforcement of the banned right turn from Cheyne Walk to Battersea Bridge Road
Reduction of speed limit on Chelsea Embankment from 30mph to 20mph
Tactile paving
TfL is also proposing to add more pedestrian crossings at the junction once the new crossing over the southern arm is installed.
It is working with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and other stakeholders to agree these further upgrades, with a full public consultation planned for next year.
Safety improvement works on the bridge’s southern end are also in the works, with discussions between TfL and Wandsworth Council ongoing.
London’s walking & cycling commissioner Will Norman said: “The safety of all road users and pedestrians in London is paramount. Following the tragic death of Jack Ryan on Battersea Bridge earlier this year, we’ve worked closely with road safety campaigners and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to accelerate safety improvements at this busy junction.
“The new signalised pedestrian crossing, along with expanded pavement and a reduced speed limit on Chelsea Embankment, will make crossing the bridge and travelling around the area safer for pedestrians.
“We will continue to work with the council and other partners to further improve safety in this area, including high quality cycling routes, as part of our Vision Zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s roads.”