As of today (22 May), vehicle access to the City of London’s Bank junction is now limited to buses and cyclists, Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm), for a period of up to 18 months.
The experimental safety scheme, approved by the City of London Corporation in December 2016, restricts vehicle journeys through the junction with the objective of delivering a 50-60% reduction in casualties.
It is hoped the scheme will also improve air quality for residents, workers and visitors in the immediate vicinity.
To deliver these safety improvements, vehicles are being rerouted around the junction via advance warnings and signage. Vehicle restrictions will be enforced via automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras with a penalty charge notice issued to drivers who contravene the experimental traffic order.
The City Corporation has worked closely with TfL to ensure that the surrounding roads are not adversely impacted by the remodelled junction and that the licensed taxi trade is well supported.
34 cyclists and 31 pedestrians were injured at the junction between 2011 and 2015.
Chris Hayward, chairman of the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee, said: “With over 450,000 workers commuting into the City every day, road safety is a significant priority. Those who pass through Bank junction will know that it is incredibly busy, confusing and potentially dangerous area at peak times
“Principally our motivation for implementing this scheme is to improve safety and reduce casualties. But Bank should also be a junction enjoyed and celebrated by users, a sentiment echoed by the local community, businesses and residents.
“A final decision on whether the scheme is to be made permanent will be made when we assess the success of this scheme following a formal public consultation, but ultimately we want to do all we can to make sure we don’t see a fatality at this junction in the future.”
22 May 2017