Key Coventry junction set for makeover in £2.8m scheme

[dutchman]

Work to revamp one of Coventry city centre's main junctions is set to begin.

The junction between Little Park Street and New Union Street will see traffic lights removed, pavements widened and the road narrowed.

Council chiefs claim it will make the junction safer, more efficient and more attractive.

It follows two controversial 'shared-space' junctions being built in the city centre.

Work begins early next month with other features including tree plantings, zebra crossings and removal of the right turn restriction into New Union Street from Little Park Street.

A roundabout will also be installed at the junction of Warwick Road and Greyfriars Road.

The work, estimated to last 13 weeks, makes up part of £2.8 million investment into roads over the next year.

It follows a swathe of changes last year including the removal of traffic from Broadgate.

Coun Lindsley Harvard, cabinet member for City Services, said it would make the area more pedestrian friendly and pleasing to the eye as well as improving traffic flow.

"The work we did last year removing traffic lights from a number of junctions resulted in cars and buses moving more freely around other parts of the city centre, only to be held up by a complicated light sequence by the police station in Little Park Street," he said.

"Installation of a new roundabout like that at the Greyfriars Road, Warwick Road junction will greatly improve traffic flows whilst two new zebra crossings with central refuges, narrowed carriageways and wider pavements are designed to make the area more pedestrian friendly.

“There will be some disruption but that’s the great thing about our ring road – there are other ways drivers can access the city centre to avoid delays."