New protective fence proposed for Cambridge guided busway

Two people have been killed on the section of the busway in recent years

A council is proposing to add a protective fence along a section of guided busway that saw two deaths.

The stretch between Cambridge railway station and Addenbrooke's Hospital has been closed for safety reasons since February 2022.

It followed the deaths of two people using the adjacent cycling and pedestrian path.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has started legal proceedings against Cambridgeshire County Council.

In September 2018, Stephen Moir, 50, died after he was clipped by a bus while overtaking pedestrians on the path.

Kathleen Pitts, 52, died on the same stretch after she was struck on the section between Cambridge railway station and Long Road in October 2021.

The authority is proposing a new protective fence beside the path - which would not prevent buses being evacuated.

The guided busway has a track along which buses travel adjacent to a pedestrian pavement and cycleway

A temporary fence has been in place for some time and the inbound lane shut there while safety improvements were sought.

Councillors will now meet next week to discuss putting in a permanent fence - including removable sections so passengers on buses can be evacuated safely.

If approved, installation work could start next month and be completed by the spring.

It would mean the busway could be used in both directions again.

'Innovative solution'

Councillor Alex Beckett, chair of the highways and transport committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Last year, we took the extremely difficult decision to partially close the southern section of the guided busway while we waited for the independent safety review and following our ongoing communications with the HSE.

"It was always only a temporary measure and we have been working hard to restore the busway to full operational use ever since.

"We have been looking at what other measures we could explore to try and reduce any risks further and working with our partners, we have designed an innovative solution which we anticipate will allow us to return the busway back to full use.

"We want people to continue cycling, walking, running, and using the maintenance track and to allow buses to operate, so this is the best way forward."

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