Date: 08 February 2008 21:12

JUNCTION CLOSURE MEANS TEMPORARY CHANGES TO BUS SERVICES

Bus passengers and motorists are being warned of changes to services and 
delays when the Emmanuel Road, Parker Street, Drummer Street junction is 
closed from 7.00 pm on Saturday, 9th February, until 6.00 am on Wednesday, 
13th February, while essential repair work is carried out.

The closure is necessary to allow for the major refurbishment of the 
junction to cater for the increasing number of buses using the area. 
Improving the junction is a key part of the Cambridge Core Traffic Scheme 
Stage 4.

The work is being co-ordinated with alterations in Drummer Street and St. 
Andrew's Street which, once completed, will improve the bus stops and the 
facilities for pedestrians.

Brian Stinton, Project Manager for Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Our 
inspections have shown that the underlying structure of the junction is 
failing and the only satisfactory way of stopping the deterioration and 
providing a good surface to withstand the heavy use it receives is to 
undertake a complete reconstruction of the area.

"We have considered all the options and realise that closing a key junction 
will result in some inconvenience and apologise for this but the extent of 
the repairs needed has meant that keeping the junction open to traffic was 
impossible."

The junction is a major route for many bus services in the city and 
Cambridgeshire County Council has been working closely with the bus 
operators on temporary arrangements for all those services affected. Drummer 
Street bus station will remain open during this period but many of the 
services that use it will have to follow a different route for access.

Many local buses, including the Stagecoach Citi services, will be using 
temporary stop arrangements near to the Four Lamps roundabout, approximately 
400 yards from the usual stops in the Emmanuel Street area.

 During the closure, the City Shuttle service, a free bus providing a link 
between key areas of the city, will provide bus passengers with an important 
link to destinations like The Grafton, the Market and Downing Street. The 
City Shuttle will be running every 20 minutes between 9.00 am-5.00 pm on 
Sunday, 10th February, and then every 10 minutes between 9.00 am-5.00 pm on 
Monday, 11th and Tuesday, 12th February.

National Express services will also be affected by the closure and will be 
running from stops in Emmanuel Street via Regent Street and St. Andrew's 
Street instead of Parkside.

For a complete list of all the changes please visit
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/core4

 Regular newsletters are being published outlining the implementation 
process and copies can be found at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/core4

 John Reynolds