TfL launches plans to redesign Old Street roundabout

Transport for London (Tfl) has launched a public consultation over plans to re-design Old Street roundabout in central London.TfL has put forward proposals to close the north-western arm of the roundabout and link the underground station – which is buried underneath the gyratory system – to a new public peninsula space incorporating the existing central island and surrounding footway.Between February 2010 and January 2013 there were 44 collisions in the vicinity of the roundabout resulting in personal injuries. Of these, 80 per cent involved a pedestrian or cyclist. Traffic studies also found that during the rush-hour period up to a third of vehicles on the Old Street roundabout were cyclists.Under the new plans the traffic layout for the junction would be redesigned to be more straight-forward to use and would provide new cycle lanes and crossings, some of which segregated with cycle-only signals.Closing the north-western ‘arm’ of the roundabout will also be integrated into proposed upgrades to Old Street station which is due for a major overhaul early next decade.