One-way streets and new parking and waiting bays are to be introduced in parts of a Leicester neighbourhood to help tackle traffic congestion and improve road safety.
Leicester City Council is due to make changes to a number of streets around Green Lane Road in North Evington, and also further north around Frisby Road.
In both cases, the work has involved consultation with local residents over concerns about traffic flow, road safety and on-street parking.
The Green Lane Road area scheme will see Green Lane Road itself made one-way, from northwest to southeast, between Bridge Street and East Park Road.
Bridge Street becomes one-way southwest to northeast, from Green Lane Road to Stonebridge Street. In addition, London Street will become one-way northeast to southwest from Green Lane Road to Leicester Street. In each case cyclists will still be able to use the roads in both directions.
A mixture of loading bays and short-stay waiting bays will also be put in place, which will be signposted clearly, along with any time restrictions on when they come into effect each day.
The scheme will cost around £80k from the city council’s Transport Improvement Works budget.
In and around Frisby Street, the changes will include making Frisby Street one-way northwest bound between Galby Street and Forest Road; Prestwold Road will become one-way south-easterly between Forest Road and Galby Road, while Willow Brook Road also becomes one-way south-easterly between Forest Road and Galby Road.
New general use parking places will also be installed along sections of Frisby Road, with existing parking restrictions scrapped.
The changes are designed to improve road safety and simplifying traffic movements. The current two-way traffic system means motorists often park partially on pavements to give traffic more room to pass, but instead they obstruct pavements in a residential area.
By reducing the traffic to one-way, cars will be able to park entirely on the roads while still enabling traffic to pass safely and making the roads and pavements safer for pedestrians and cyclists, who will still be able to use the roads in both directions.
The Frisby Road scheme will cost around £50k, again funded by the city council’s Transport Improvement Works budget.
The schemes could come into effect in late spring 2023.
Leicester deputy city mayor for transport, climate emergency and clean air, Cllr Adam Clarke said: “These changes follow work between the city council, residents and ward councillors to address concerns about road safety, parking and traffic flow in these areas.
“We’ve looked closely at where sections of road can be made one-way, in order to simplify and reduce traffic flow in these residential streets. The new parking bays in Frisby Road will ensure there is additional space which doesn’t obstruct the pavements or hamper passing traffic.
“At Green Lane Road, the addition of loading bays and short-stay waiting bays will help reduce the conflict between vehicles and pedestrians, as well as providing space for parking for local businesses, at the same time as helping traffic flow.
“We’ll be looking closely at how these schemes work, to ensure they address the concerns raised and help improve safety for all road users.”
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