One of Britain’s busiest cycling routes will prioritise bikes over cars as construction begins on a pioneering traffic scheme.
Work has started on Adams Road in Cambridge, which will become England’s first official cycle street when the project completes next spring.
The road currently handles 3,000 cyclists during peak times, making it one of the most heavily used cycling routes in the country.
Under the new design, motorists will give way to cyclists while retaining access to the road. Most on-street parking will be removed to eliminate blind spots and reduce the risk of car doors opening into cyclists’ paths.
The scheme will also widen pavements and install raised crossings to improve safety for pedestrians.
Cllr Brian Milnes, chair of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said the current layout had become dangerous.
“We’ve heard too many stories of cyclists being knocked off their bikes and car doors suddenly opening into their path, while elderly and vulnerable residents have to step into the road just to get around bins or parked cars,” he said.
Dan Strauss, representing Adams Road residents, welcomed the changes. “Fast moving traffic, crowded pavements and constant near misses have turned one of the busiest cycle routes in Cambridge into an unsafe cycling experience,” he said.
The project forms part of the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s Comberton Greenway, one of 12 new cycling and walking routes covering more than 150km across the area.
Construction is expected to take approximately 30 weeks, with the road reopening in spring 2026.
The scheme will also include rain gardens and green planting to manage surface water and support local wildlife.