Another City Deal consultation we should be aware of. Closes 21st March.

Western Orbital

We welcome your views on initial ideas to create a ‘Western Orbital’, a new, fast and reliable link for buses between the west and south of Cambridge either along or near the M11. Other improvements aimed at encouraging people to travel by bus or cycle for all or parts of their journeys are also suggested.

Currently taking the bus from Madingley Road to Addenbrooke’s Hospital requires travelling through the city centre, which can often be congested, making journeys slow and unreliable. According to Stagecoach’s timetables, journeys on the Uni 4 service take 32 minutes to complete this 5 mile route.

Journeys on a ‘Western Orbital’ link between M11 Junction 13/Madingley Road and Addenbrooke’s Hospital would take around:

18 to 19 minutes on a route along the M11
15 to 16 minutes on a route very near to the M11 to either the east or west

A ‘Western Orbital’ link between Junction 11 (Trumpington) and Junction 13 (Madingley Road) would:

Connect to and from major housing and employment sites: Trumpington Meadows; Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Biomedical Campus; the West Cambridge site; the North West Cambridge site as well as an onward link to Cambridge Science Park, Cambridge Business Park and the future Cambridge North Rail Station
Connect to the existing Busway in the south at Trumpington and in the north at Orchard Park via new developments in North West Cambridge

Creating ‘orbital’ bus and cycle links would encourage sustainable travel and offer an alternative to travelling through the city centre. Dedicated off-road cycling routes encourage travel by bike and offer a safer alternative to busy roads.

We need your feedback in order to help improve these initial ideas and shape the scheme. These proposals will only go ahead with landowner agreements and public support and are subject to the decision of elected politicians on the City Deal Executive Board.