FAQs

The proposals for improving the junction at Sussex Gardens and Edgware Road for pedestrians and cyclists are a response to traffic collisions, pedestrian injuries and a fatality at the junction.  

In the three years prior to the December 2019 scheme brief, there were 17 collisions at the junction. Seven of these collisions involved pedestrians, resulting in eight pedestrians being hurt, with two of them suffering serious injuries. Most tragically, there was one pedestrian fatality along the road between Sussex Gardens and Burwood Place. 

We have developed our proposals are in line with our Vision Zero strategy, which aims to eradicate deaths and serious injuries from our roads.  The proposals have been designed according to our Healthy Streets approach, which aims to make London a safer, healthier and greener place to live and travel.   

One stage direct crossing with all green pedestrian signals simplifies crossing the road, reducing the risk of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts.  This makes a safer alternative to the existing two-stage arrangement, where crossing the road is divided into two signal stages via the pedestrian islands. 

Increasing space for pedestrians improves safety as when there are a lot of people about pedestrians are less likely to step into the road, making the corners comfortable and accessible spaces for pedestrians. 

Removing the slip lanes will help the position of cyclists within the road, reducing the likelihood of side-swipe and left turn conflicts. Furthermore, early starts and right turn improvements offer cyclists a way to navigate the junction by giving them a head start on traffic and a safer way to turn right, thereby reducing the risk of collisions.

Traffic will still be able to take the same routes if the proposals are installed. 

We calculate that the impact of the proposals on traffic will be small, with maximum delays below 30 seconds in peak hours.  

Following the schemes implementation, the modelling predicts slightly longer journey times with small second increases in traffic delays on all approaches to the junction, except for the eastbound direction. 

The most substantial delays are expected:

• In the morning (AM), delays of 10.5 seconds for southbound traffic and 11.2 seconds for westbound traffic.
• During the afternoon (PM), northbound and southbound traffic experience delays of 11.5 and 11.9 seconds, respectively.

A rain garden is a specially designed garden that collects and manages rainwater runoff from adjacent surfaces.  They help to prevent flooding and filter pollutants before the water reaches sewer systems.  

They benefit the local area because:

• More green area 
• Softens the urban environment, making the street look better
• Makes the street cooler 
• Enhances wildlife habitat for bio-diversity 
• Reduces the risk of too much water resulting in floods
• Improves air quality
• Filters pollution and improves water quality

Our tree experts recommend removing the unhealthy trees to eliminate any potential future risk to the public.  

We will replace the trees with new trees in the four new rain gardens, providing them with a better environment to grow and thrive. 

One of the existing trees near the proposed rain garden appears to be in good health, and we will keep it in place.