Part of guided busway in Cambridge closed to install safety barrier

Work has begun to remove a temporary fence that separates the path and the busway

Work has started on a permanent barrier to make a section of Cambridgeshire's guided busway safer.

The southern section connecting Cambridge Railway Station with Addenbrooke's Hospital has been closed in one direction since February 2022.

Cyclist Steve Moir, 50, and 52-year-old pedestrian Kathleen Pitts lost their lives on the section between 2018 and 2021.

A temporary fence was installed following the two deaths.

The permanent barrier will separate pedestrians and cyclists from the active busway.

The new barrier will have removable sections, allowing passengers to be evacuated from buses in the event of an emergency.

Once complete, this will allow the busway to return to full, two-way operation.

The Cambridgeshire guided busway links St Ives with Cambridge

Cambridgeshire County Council anticipates it will take at least a week to remove the temporary fence along the 1.2km (0.74 mile) stretch. The southern section of the busway and the adjoining pathway will then be closed for a further five weeks to allow the new fence to be installed.

The busway and maintenance track are due to re-open on Saturday, 30 March.

In May 2023, the Health and Safety Executive indicated they planned to start legal proceedings against the county council following its investigation into the deaths of Mr Moir and Ms Pitts.