Traffic returns to pre-lockdown levels

Traffic in Peterborough is above the level it was prelock down, but rush hour has disappeared.

Peterborough City Council executive director for economy and place Steve Cox said the number of the vehicles on the city’s roads were greater than they were in early March, but that they were spread out more evenly during the day.

He also said no decisions have been made yet on whether temporary, Government-fundedcy clelanes introduced due to the coronavirus pandemic at places including Priestgate, New Road, City Road and Crescent Bridge will be made permanent.

He said: “It’s an often asked question. We have a cross party working group of members who are reviewing the success of the active travel schemes which are in.

“We will be monitoring usage. Crescent Bridge, for example, I know a lot of people want to see that made permanent.

“So the short answer is we don’t know. We know they are temporary and experimental, but who’s to say if they are successful and have the impact we want they could remain in place .?”

Asked whether Peterborough, which has the aspiration to be the UK’s Environment Capital, is too car focused, he replied: “It’s about getting the balance right. Peterborough is lucky in having an excellent road network so it is very accessible by car. What we need to do, particularly around the city centre, is get that balance right between cars, cycling and pedestrian activity.

“The experimental measures in place are giving us an interesting insight into what’s possible, but it’s a question of timing and whether we will go back to an‘ old normal’ or a‘ new normal ’.

“We’ve been looking at some of the stats around the county at traffic levels. In most districts, including Peterborough, we’ re slightly above the pre-lock down traffic levels, so the amount of cars on the road is greater than at the beginning of March. The difference is they are not all travelling in the peak hours – they’re more spread over the day, which is a good thing.

“Whether that’s something that will carry on because people will settle into new working patterns, I don’t know. It would be a good thing, no doubt, if we can avoid the peak hours.

“We have a good road network, but this is an opportunity to shift the balance a little bit in the city centre.”

Mr Cox added that a master plan for the city centre includes better cycle routes and a bridge over the River Nene connecting the new university and the Fletton Quays development.