This scheme started in May 2019 and was completed in June 2019.

The aim of the scheme is to improve traffic flow in the area and provide a safer crossing for those who use this busy road

The improvements included the upgrade of the existing uncontrolled (Zebra) crossing to a controlled pedestrian and cycle (Toucan) crossing, removal of the existing roundabout near the entrance to the Cattle Market Car Park and an improved road alignment with updated car park access. To enable this the old mini roundabout was removed.

Work is underway to install a signalised pedestrian crossing on Pheasant Street, near Asda in Worcester. This will replace the current zebra crossing.

As part of Worcestershire County Council’s programme to relieve congestion across the county, this scheme follows improvements at Sidbury and Croft Road in Worcester. 

Night works

To minimise disruption to traffic, much of the work will be completed at night. Working hours will be 9.00pm to 5:30am Monday to Friday. 

During these times Pheasant Street is fully closed to vehicles in both directions between the St Paul’s/Martin’s Gate/George Street Roundabout and the St Martin’s Quarter (Asda) Car Park Roundabout, with a diversion signposted via Shrub Hill Road. 

The St Martin’s Quarter (Asda) car park will be open during the overnight closures in line with their usual opening hours and pedestrians will be able to cross or walk along Pheasant Street during the night works. 

During the day

During the day, Pheasant Street will be fully open to vehicles and pedestrians as usual.

However, the current pedestrian crossing is temporarily relocated a little closer to the St Martin’s Quarter (Asda) car park roundabout.

Background

The improvements on the Sidbury Junction area begin in June and include, the replacement of the almost 50-year-old traffic light system with signals that use the latest technology. The new signals will regularly monitor traffic conditions and will adjust how long a particular light remains green based on the level of traffic.

To improve traffic flow along the City Walls Road from the north, the approach lanes will be extended to enable vehicles to get into the correct lane earlier.

There will also be improvements for pedestrians and cyclists with the installation of a new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing. This will be installed at the northern end of Commandery Road and will include a central refuge to make it more user-friendly for pedestrians.

All the work will take place between Clare Street in the north, Wylde’s Lane in the east, the southern end of Commandery Road where it joins Bath Road and Cathedral Square in the west.

Although most of the daytime work will be carried out during the school holidays to minimise disruption. The initial works to carry out installation of ducting will start during the week commencing Monday 17 June, when there will be up to seven successive overnight closures between 8pm and 6am. The overnight work will be carried out in phases and will restrict the number of routes that are closed at any one time to minimise the impact of the work. Any diversions that are necessary will be signposted.

During the works, the current traffic signals will need to be removed and temporary signals will be installed until the new signals are in operation.

Latest Updates

Tackling congestion using the £5m pledged by Cabinet in addition to £6.6 million won as part of a bid to Department for Transport. The Sidbury Scheme is part of this.

10 June 2019

Sidbury Junction improvement scheme to start next week

Works to improve traffic flow in one of the busiest areas of Worcester City are set to start next week.

The improvements on the Sidbury Junction area will be completed by Worcestershire County Council and will include replacing the traffic light system, extending approach lanes and installing a new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing.

Councillor Alan Amos, Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Highways, said: “It’s great news that work will soon start to improve one of the busiest parts of the city.

“Once the work is complete, the Sidbury Junction will benefit from modern technologies that help to improve traffic flow, vastly improving this busy area for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

“This is part of a wider programme of works that highlights the County Council’s commitment to relieving congestion across the county.”

A key part of the works is the replacement of the almost 50-year-old traffic light system with signals that use the latest technology. The new signals will regularly monitor traffic conditions and will adjust how long a particular light remains green based on the level of traffic.

To improve traffic flow along the City Walls Road from the north, the approach lanes will be extended to enable vehicles to get into the correct lane earlier.

There will also be improvements for pedestrians and cyclists with the installation of a new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing. This will be installed at the northern end of Commandery Road and will include a central refuge to make it more user-friendly for pedestrians.

All the work will take place between Clare Street in the north, Wylde’s Lane in the east, the southern end of Commandery Road where it joins Bath Road and Cathedral Square in the west.

Although most of the daytime work will be carried out during the school holidays to minimise disruption. The initial works to carry out installation of ducting will start during the week commencing Monday 17 June, when there will be up to seven successive overnight closures between 8pm and 6am. The overnight work will be carried out in phases and will restrict the number of routes that are closed at any one time to minimise the impact of the work. Any diversions that are necessary will be signposted. 

During the works, the current traffic signals will need to be removed and temporary signals will be installed until the new signals are in operation.

31 May 2019

Works to improve traffic flow in one of the busiest areas of Worcester are set to start in June.

 The improvements on the Sidbury Junction area will be completed by Worcestershire County Council and will include replacing the traffic light system, extending approach lanes and installing a new signal-controlled pedestrian crossing.

More information will be available in the coming weeks.

25 February 2019

As previously communicated, the overall aim of the Sidbury junction improvement scheme, which will see the introduction of new signalling equipment to update the current 40 year old installation, will be to improve the efficiency of the signals. The upgrade will allow the sites to 'communicate' to each other when traffic flows vary and green light timings need to alter. The wider scheme will also consider enhancements to street lighting, footways and crossing facilities.

To introduce a signalised crossing at the bottom of Commandery Road, the central reservation will need to be widened. This in turn means that we will then need to move the carriageway and then the footway over into the slabbed area where the trees were.

In preparation for the works, three trees had to be removed from the bottom of Commandery Road ahead of the bird nesting season at the start of March to ensure that no nesting birds are affected by the removal of the trees. We will be planting replacement trees once the scheme is complete.

Main works are due to start later this year and we will be sharing more details of scheme closer to the time.

We always do what we can to prevent the removal of healthy street trees. When we absolutely have to, we always have a replanting strategy in place. Unfortunately, without the removal of these 3 trees, we would be unable to fully make the much needed improvements to this area with the aim of improving crossing facilities and relieving congestion.

These works are now complete

This scheme is part of our Relieving Congestion programme in Worcester. The work in St. John’s follows other successful improvement work in the city.

The main feature of the works in St John’s will be a formal controlled crossing at the junction of The Bullring and the traffic signals at New Rd/Tybridge Street

The St John’s improvements will include

• The introduction of a new two phase signal controlled crossing at the bottom of the hill, at the junction with New road/Tybridge St. This signalised junction will also include advanced technology to enhance future bus movements through this junction and into the City. The new signals will regularly monitor traffic conditions and will adjust how long a particular light remains green based on the level of traffic. As the new facility will offer a safe route for pedestrians crossing in the area, the bus lane will be removed as the new stop lines need to be introduced and this road space will be reallocated to the wider driving community.
• Improvements to the existing crossing point on Henwick Rd near to the limited waiting parking bay. This will be widened to allow a safe waiting area for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and parents with double buggies etc when crossing the road between the shopping area and St Clements estate. A further formal uncontrolled crossing point across Bush Walk will be introduced to allow safe access to and from the new push button crossing over the A44.
• Introducing new signal technology, helping the signals to work more efficiently with the surrounding junctions to streamline which routes get priority in quieter times.
• Kerblines will be moved with the benefits of wider footways where possible and full wide traffic lanes in areas where current pinch points create congestion and delays.
• The removal of the old A44 traffic segregation island just west of Henwick Rd junction to allow this area to have two continuous lanes of traffic travelling towards the west.
• Removal of the narrowing pinch point as traffic travels from New Rd/Bromwich Rd into St John’s where the kerbing/footway can be altered to allow two side-by-side lanes to continue up the hill and through the area.
• Post utility works, the footways on both sides of the road between Henwick Rd/Bromwich Lane and Bromyard Terrace/Malvern Rd will finally be enhanced with new block paving

Whilst works will commence in early June with three way temporary traffic signals to take advantage of the current low COVID-19 traffic levels.

In late June, a temporary one way system will be introduced where traffic can travel through St John’s towards the City but traffic coming over the bridge along New Road will then need to travel north along Tybridge Street or south towards Bromwich Rd. This will allow us to work in several areas at a time and shorten the required duration of the phased works.

More details of the phasing of these works will be available on the website in the coming weeks.