London's first segregated cycle junction to be installed in Camden

Cycle campaigners today hailed a leap forward in road safety as plans were unveiled for the country’s first “life-saving” segregated road junction.

The go-ahead for the £1.3million project to redesign Cobden Junction in Mornington Crescent, in Camden, will be the first of 33 cycle-friendly junctions in the capital when it opens next year.

Segregated cycle lanes - where cyclists are physically separated from other traffic by a raised kerb - have been introduced on several of London’s cycle superhighways, but Transport for London’s new Cobden Junction project is the first designed to combat so-called “left hook” collisions.

Bicycles and motor vehicles will follow signals from independent sets of traffic lights, giving cyclists a head start on other traffic turning left. Last year so-called “left hook” collisions were blamed for nine of London’s 14 cycling deaths.

Jean Dollimore, of the Camden Cyclist Campaign, said: “It’s potentially lifesaving. At the moment the designs of some junctions lead to deaths and serious injuries and it really puts people off cycling.

“I’m really pleased that this is going ahead. It’s the first of its kind in the UK and it’s a step forward in the right direction.”

The scheme, set to be completed in March 2015, will see one lane of traffic removed, cycle priority traffic signals installed and segregated lanes built.

Two statues, the Richard Cobden Statue and Far East Prisoners of War Memorial, will be dug up and moved to make way for the new junction.

Councillor Phil Jones, Camden council’s cabinet member for sustainability, transport and planning, said: “Making our streets and spaces more attractive and safer for walking and cycling is a top priority for Camden and forms a key element of our proposals to transform Cobden Junction.

“New safety measures at the junction will include protected cycle lanes and traffic signals that allow cyclists to avoid conflict with turning vehicles. These changes will help prevent the ‘left hook’ problem that causes many collisions involving cyclists.”