Pedestrianisation for Safer Shopping

Shoppers in Cheltenham’s lower High Street cannot fail to have noticed the improved conditions beneath their feet and the reduced traffic activity since the latest phase of pedestrianisation was completed.
 
Working for Cheltenham Borough Council as part of the ‘Civic Pride’ initiative, Grimshaw Group’s Civil Engineering division had to revamp the area whilst keeping access to the shops clear and the buses running on time.

Lower High Street had long suffered as illegal traffic used the street as a short cut making the area hazardous for pedestrians.

When work commenced Grimshaw experienced problems when determined drivers insisted on using the road even though it was closed to through traffic. “At one point we nearly had to stop work as our workmen were in danger due to the volume of traffic”, said Site Supervisor Steve Hicks, “Eventually the police had to be called in to sort out the problem and we were able to continue as planned.”

The contract included the construction of new pavements, paving the area and moving bus stops. Consequently organisation and good communication were vital to this project. As bus stops were moved, passengers and bus drivers had to be kept informed, as the road surface was constructed, shops had to be confident that their deliveries could get through and in addition local residents had to be kept in the picture the whole time.

For Grimshaw the project was one of many carried out for the Borough Council over the past 50 years which have included the construction of paths, cycleways and the pedestrianisation work at the upper end of the High Street in 2003.

The job was competed on time and an official opening ceremony was held to unveil the new look Lower High Street. Local residents and shoppers were delighted, many saying how the finished project had improved the area especially since the installation of a rising bollard at the entrance to the area ensures only authorised traffic use the road.