In The News

Latest Baker Street Two Way News

Thu, February 28, 2019 6:48 PM | Anonymous

The switch to two-way has been completed. Gloucester Place is now numbered as the A4380 and Baker Street is numbered as the A41.

Therefore, WCC would like to remind drivers and cyclists to remain vigilant whilst using the new road layout. When crossing the road, pedestrians should remember to look both ways.

WCC would like to thank the public for their ongoing patience and feedback whilst people get used to the new road layout. Below are answers to some of the key questions we are being asked:

(1) Safety Concerns

Following reports of an accident involving a pedestrian and a bus, Councillor Tim Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Environment and City Management, has provided the following statement:

“The safety of all our residents and visitors is of course our primary concern. We are deeply concerned that someone should be hurt in this way and together with Transport for London we are looking urgently into how and why this happened. It is too early at this stage to say whether the switch to two-way traffic played a part. Since the switch, we have had street marshals on the roads who have been advising pedestrians to look both ways. As a precautionary measure we increased the number of marshals and are implementing other safety measures in and around Baker Street and Gloucester Place. We would continue to ask everyone using the area to take great care as everyone gets used to the new layout.”

Marshals will be on hand to help pedestrians between 07:00 and 20:00, at every junction along the scheme until Monday next week. Additionally we have installed new signage and road markings at pedestrian crossings to provide a visual warning to users.

(2) York Street

WCC are aware of reports of traffic congestion along York Street. Please be assured that we are monitoring the situation and will implement appropriate mitigation measures if the problem persists. Members of the project team have been holding discussions with Transport for London about the possibility to provide additional green time to help alleviate the problem.

The current issues largely stem from the fact that drivers are still getting used to the new road layout and are not aware of the restrictions on Baker Street for northbound traffic after the junction with York Street.

Only Buses, Taxis and Cyclists are permitted to head northbound along Baker Street between York Street and Marylebone Road. These restrictions apply Monday to Friday 07:00 to 19:00. General traffic heading northbound is advised to use Gloucester Place instead of Baker Street.

It is expected that as drivers become familiar with the new layout, the current issue should ease.

(3) Permitted Movements for Vehicles

Drivers can familiarise themselves with the permitted traffic movements at every junction along the scheme by visiting the following page on our website: http://www.bakerstreettwoway.co.uk/pdfs/Proposed-Turns_v18.pdf

(4) Bus Routes

Information regarding changes to bus routes is available via:

Additionally, the diagram below shows where you can catch your bus.

What Happens Next

Phase 4 - 24th February to end of June 2019

There will now be a period of 6 weeks, when construction activity will be paused to allow traffic, residents and businesses to get used to the new layout. Please note our team will be on site during this period undertaking regular maintenance.

Although the scheme is 90% complete, our team needs to finalise some areas that can only be completed with the roads operating as two-way.

From early April to June, our team will return to site to complete the remaining works in the following areas:

Gloucester Place / Ivor Place

A temporary traffic island has been installed at Gloucester Place at the zebra crossing north of Ivor Place. There will be a road closure to remove the temporary island and install a permanent island.

Portman Mews South

There will be a road closure on Portman Mews South between Granville Place and Portman Street for approximately 6 weeks to reconstruct the carriageway and the loading area outside the pub with new paving, near the Portman Street junction.

Baker Street (between Dorset Street and Blandford Street)

There will be a partial closure on Baker Street between Blandford Street and Dorset Street to install the new central island and complete carriageway resurfacing outside 55 Baker Street.

Baker Street (outside Sherlock Holmes Museum)

There will be a partial closure north of the Marylebone Road to install a central island south of the Park Road junction, outside the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Baker Street / Marylebone Road junction

A temporary traffic island has been installed on Baker Street just south of the Marylebone Road junction. There will be a partial closure between Marylebone Road and Bickenhall Street/Porter Street to replace the temporary island with a permanent island.

Portman Street / Wigmore Street / Seymour Street

There will be partial closures at Portman Street to complete footway paving on the eastern side of Portman Street (between Granville Street and Portman Mews South) and carriageway resurfacing from Oxford Street to Portman Square. There will also be road closures in Wigmore Street and Seymour Street to complete resurfacing on their approaches to Portman Square.

High-friction material and signal loops

Once all the above elements are completed, our team will apply buff-coloured anti-skid material at the junctions (as specified in our consultation drawings). This will be completed via road closures.
Our Traffic Signals team will also install the final traffic detectors for signal loops in the approaches to the new signal controlled junctions.

Additional Trees for Baker Street

Since Christmas 2017, 17 trees have been removed and 26 planted. Planting has been unsuccessful in 8 locations due to the presence of shallow building basements. Our team is working on alternative locations for additional trees. If you have any question regarding tree planting locations, please contact us via our email address.

All of the road closures will be advertised locally before they take place.

Contact

The Marylebone Association

6 Wimpole Street

London

W1G 8AL

admin@marylebone