Hackney Council begins redesigning Pembury Circus next week. Road changes will affect cars, buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.
The council says the junction redesign is needed because sixty-six injury crashes happened there since 2017. The London Cycling Campaign criticized the plans before, wanting separated bike lanes for safety.
The council prioritizes pedestrians in its design, thinking cycle lanes would make crossings harder. Cyclists get early green lights on four roads, letting bikes start moving before cars.
Cars can’t turn left from Pembury Road to Dalston Lane, nor can they turn right to Amhurst Road. A bus gate restricts Amhurst and Mare Street traffic, active from 7 AM to 7 PM.
Buses and emergency vehicles are exempt from the bus gate. Blue badge holders with e-companion badges can also pass, and deliveries to some addresses are allowed. Parking spaces on Amhurst Road will be removed.
Graham Street will shut near Mare Street on February 17th and 18th as workers build a new crossing for walkers. Buses will detour via Dalston Lane and Amhurst Road.
Pavement work starts February 19th on Mare Street, between Graham Road and the Narrow Way. Work also occurs on Amhurst Road pavements, and roads stay open during this pavement phase.
Mare Street near Iceland will close to traffic later, specifically the area under the railway bridge. The council will start this work in the summer, but a precise date is not yet available.
The government’s Levelling Up fund gives £19 million to pay for this construction project. Over 200 crashes have occurred since 2017, causing 25 serious injuries and tragically resulting in two deaths.