A multi-million pound roundabout was forced to close just days after it was built in a major blow for locals. A £2.3million Dutch-style roundabout in Cambridge was damaged by a hit-and-run driver back in August 2020.
A car driver collided with a Belisha beacon column when the roundabout at Queen Edith’s Way was running under temporary traffic lights. The incident caused the beam to lean slightly, and there were concerns that the impact may have caused underground structural problems to the pole. Council chiefs said the driver had failed to stop at the scene, but repairs got underway immediately.
The roundabout was eventually closed for three nights before opening up days later after the incident had been cleared. A Dutch-style roundabout is a revolutionary concept that prioritises cyclists and pedestrians over vehicles.
The road has a designated cycle and pedestrian lane around the outside of the road, with zebra crossings at the start of each junction. The scheme means that drivers entering or exiting the roundabout must always give way to cyclists and pedestrians.
The roundabout got its name after it was launched to great success in the Netherlands. At the time, the roundabout in Cambridge was the only Dutch-style roundabout in the country but others have now been installed in Sheffield, Chichester, and Hemel Hempstead.
Cyclist and pedestrian use has increased since the roundabout was opened half a decade ago. However, some locals have already voiced their opposition to the new road, with safety still a major concern.
Neville Silverston, a retired GP, previously told the BBC that he had noticed drivers forced into emergency stops in a desperate bid to avoid a collision.
He said: “I don’t think the design has any safety features for the people it was intended to be safe for. It’s a very busy roundabout and motorists use it at quite high speed. It’s too much for even an experienced driver to take in, with cyclists and pedestrians coming from left and right, and vehicles from the right.”
Locals have also previously warned of the effects of e-scooters which have been known to “whizz” in front of vehicles. Alex Beckett from Cambridge City Council previously stressed that officials carry out regular road safety audits at the site.
He added: “We have received compliments on its layout and had great interest from other local authorities who are looking to install their own Dutch-style roundabouts.”
