'Congested footpath is forcing people into the road'

"It's an accident waiting to happen," says Katie Thorington as she dodges cyclists, mopeds and e-scooters while walking along a narrow diversion footpath around Peterborough's Queensgate roundabout.

The Crescent Bridge walkway has become more congested following the closure of the roundabout's underpasses on 6 July and another key footpath leading into the railway station.

The closures are part of works for the first phase of the £65m Station Quarter scheme to create a pedestrian-friendly walkway between the railway station and the city centre.

Thorington, who has epilepsy and is unable to drive, lives in Peterborough and relies on the footpath to access the station to commute to her job, but says the congestion regularly "forces pedestrians into the road" and increases the risk of collisions.

"I do think there's an accident waiting to happen here if they don't make it clearer about how you can access the railway station, because there's just arrows and if you haven't really used or don't have knowledge of the area, I think you're going to be very confused about how you get about.

"I just don't think what they've done here is enough, and the fact that they've taken six days to put appropriate signage up is just appalling," she says.

The new walkway - known as the City Link project - will be a "welcoming and safer" addition to Peterborough, Thorington adds, but she questions whether enough consideration is being given to pedestrians during the construction phase, especially wheelchair users or people with pushchairs.

"It is not putting the pedestrian first even though at the end of the day, [the City Link project] is going to make going by foot safer.

"It is an afterthought when it comes to putting signage up while they're doing this work, and it's going to be around a year before they complete as well," she says.

Thorington says the footpath, which is expected to remain the diversion footpath until the project is completed in May 2027, is made more dangerous by a blind corner near the roundabout, where it is difficult to see people approaching.

About 1,000 tonnes of concrete is being used to fill the two underpasses under the roundabout, which will eventually be replaced by a street-level crossing to provide access between the station and Cowgate in the city centre.

While works continue, the Queensgate roundabout - which is one of the city's busiest junctions - has been reduced to a single lane.

Additionally, the footpath linking Thorpe Road and Crescent Bridge towards the city centre has been shut.

Pedestrians approaching from Crescent Bridge can use the Midland Road crossing, follow the path towards the station's car park on to Bourges Boulevard, and then use the crossings to reach Priestgate or Cowgate.

People using the diverted footpath along the roundabout tell the BBC it is "dangerous and confusing" and say clearer signage was needed.

While walking between Thorpe Meadows and Peterborough railway station, Thorington was approached twice by people asking for directions as the main pedestrian route had been closed.

A cyclist using the route says the pathway is "confusing", another says the footpath felt "crowded" and one woman says it is "awful".

Thorington says she witnessed a family with young children, including one in a pushchair, who were forced to walk on the road among traffic while trying to find the station entrance from Crescent Bridge.

Peterborough City Council says it has installed new signs along Crescent Bridge and Bourges Boulevard directing people to the station, a spokesperson adding: "These are new signs - previously these signs had the warning triangles showing roadworks ahead."

Peterborough City Council said the railway station's drop-off and pick-up area would remain open throughout the works, although some parking spaces would be temporarily closed to accommodate the construction site.

The station and Queensgate car parks will remain open, while any full road closures will take place overnight where possible to minimise disruption.

Shabina Qayyum, the authority's Labour leader said: "As with any major highways project, we welcome feedback from pedestrians and motorists and will consider whether any adjustments are needed moving forwards.

"We have already improved the signage for the pedestrian route through the station car park following earlier feedback from the public.

"Whilst it may appear we are only prioritising vehicles we have looked at all pedestrian routes and apologise for the inconvenience caused. When the project is finished it will benefit pedestrians more than anyone to access our city centre."

Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, previously said: "It's going to be a bit of pain while construction goes on, but it's going to be worth it."

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