Restrictions at the Mill Road bridge bus gate will now start along with an extended warning period for drivers to get used to the new layout.
Work to install the bus gate was completed at the end of last month (November), despite some disruption by protestors, and it is now ready to be implemented.
The council will now begin a phased approach to the bus gate restriction, to allow people time to get used to it and encourage drivers not to drive over the bridge.
The Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is now enforceable, and until the end of January we will be warning drivers, who are not exempt, not to drive over the bridge. We’ll be monitoring with civil parking enforcement officers and signs will be displayed. This will be a warning period only – no fines or official warning notices will be issued.
At the end of January, there will be a further warning period where non-exempt vehicles will receive warning notices only, and if they are exempt, will be encouraged to register online. Fines are not expected to come into effect until March.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “Mill Road is such an important street to all of us and we all know how sensitive this project has been. We’re now at the stage where we’re ready to implement the bus gate and we have decided to begin the restriction in a measured way. Nobody wants to be fining people; we want to bring everyone along with us and allow extra time to adjust to the bus gate.
“In this extended warning period, we’re going to fix the vandalised Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras (ANPR) and further engage and communicate with local care providers. It will also allow additional time for drivers to get used to the restriction and give more time for those who are exempt to register.”
The restriction over the bridge will be implemented as a bus gate and blue badge holders will need to register up to two vehicles for exemption via an application form online, which is available on the council’s website. More information including the exemption criteria will be updated on our website soon and we’ll be reaching out to care agencies separately to make them aware.
Blue badge holders will be required to provide a copy of their valid blue badge paperwork.
Longer term public realm improvements are anticipated for Mill Road, subject to funding and further local engagement.
