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Issue one.

Welcome

We’ve been listening to your feedback and want to make improvements to how we keep you up to date about safety improvements along the Guided Busway. 

This is the first edition of our new regular newsletter to keep you informed whilst works are underway.

Why does the council manage health and safety and why is it different to a road?

We’ve been asked these questions lots of times and we want to explain. The busway is subject to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The busway is treated as a workplace and is managed and regulated as such. Section three of the Health and Safety at Work Act places a duty on the council to protect the public who could be exposed to risks on the busway. The County Council must act promptly to manage and reduce the Guided Busway’s health and safety risks. 

The busway is not considered a road and isn’t covered by the same laws. The busway is completely different – it is off-road and on guide rails.  

We’re delivering this work to improve safety along the busway and really appreciate your patience and understanding whilst we do so.  

However, we know that disruption can be frustrating, and we’re working hard to minimise the impact these may have on your journey. 

We’d like to remind people they must not trespass on the busway, and they must keep to the maintenance track or formal crossing points for their own safety. 

How do I sign up to the newsletter?

You can sign up to receive this newsletter direct to your inbox by visiting our website.

We encourage members of the public to raise any safety concerns and report near misses directly to us.

Busway fencing programme continues

The new fencing being installed along the Guided Busway is progressing and information on the next phases is now available. This work is to improve safety along the busway.

In October, we announced the first phase on the remaining southern section between Trumpington and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Work on the first phase at Long Road Bridge has now been completed and moved along to the Trumpington section on Monday, 17 November.  

At the same time as Trumpington, we will start at Pagram Way (near Orchard Park) up to Cambridge Road, Histon. This work will start on Monday, 1 December, and it is expected to take 12 weeks. It will involve digging for foundations and installing posts, panels, and emergency gates. 

During the fencing installation, the busway and the path which runs alongside it will be closed. Route A buses will be diverted from Histon along Cambridge Road and onto Histon Road into Cambridge city centre. Route B buses will divert from Histon along Cambridge Road and via Orchard Park to rejoin the busway.  

We have been engaging with the bus operators throughout and we appreciate there will be hold-ups in terms of traffic. People can access real time information on the bus companies’ app and updated information on diversions is available on our website. 

The council is also committed to facilitating safe crossing points in Histon and Impington and proposals regarding this will be discussed with the local community before these details are finalised. 

We continue to engage with the bus operators on a weekly basis, and we appreciate all of their work to keep services running for our residents and visitors.

Information about where the temporary bus stops will be located is available on our website. We’d urge passengers to plan their journeys and allow extra time as there will be disruption during the works.

The other phases of fencing work will be: 

• Between Trumpington Park and Ride and the junction with Addenbrooke’s spur. This started on Monday 17 November.  
• Between Addenbrooke’s spur junction and Francis Crick Avenue. This is expected to begin in April.  

This fencing is being installed to separate the busway from the maintenance track, the path which runs alongside the busway. These measures build on the County Council’s commitment to health and safety on the busway.  

Whilst work is taking place, we’d like to remind people they must not trespass on the busway, and they must keep to the maintenance track or formal crossing points for their own safety.  

Work on Trumpington section

Since 12 October we’ve been working to install a fence between the busway and the maintenance track, the path which runs alongside the busway, from Long Road Bridge heading south towards the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. We are installing a 1.5-metre-high steel fence with emergency gates every 100 metres, and holes to allow for animal crossings every nine metres. We’re pleased to say this work is ahead of schedule and this first phase is complete.

From Monday, 17 November, we moved to phase two and have begun installing the fencing on the section to Trumpington. There is a full closure of that section of both the busway and maintenance track. Buses are being diverted onto the road, and a pedestrian / cycle diversion is in place.  

We have been engaging with the bus operators throughout the introduction of further measures. We appreciate there will be hold-ups in terms of traffic flows. People can access real time information on the bus companies' app and updated information on diversions is available on our website. 

We continue to engage with the bus operators on a weekly basis, and we appreciate all of their work to keep services running for our residents and visitors. 

Planned weekend maintenance

We’ll be carrying out routine maintenance on the busway over upcoming weekends, which will involve localised closures of both the busway and the path which runs alongside it. Signage will be in place to inform people in advance of these works.

The locations for these works are outlined below:

• 22 to 23 November - St Ives to Swavesey
• 30 November to 1 December - Oakington to Park Lane, Histon

This month, we’ll also be doing a survey of all the lighting to identify issues that need fixing and our team are out inspecting the maintenance track for any issues that need our attention. Our contractors will be out on site carrying out repairs to the surface of the maintenance track from 19 to 28 November. 

Please remember, if you spot any issues, or near misses, help us by letting us know via this form or via the QR code out on the busway.  

Histon and Impington public meeting on 25 November

We're committed to engaging with local communities along the busway. Therefore, we’re inviting residents of Histon and Impington to attend a further drop-in event on Tuesday, 25 November, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, at Histon Baptist Church.  

This will be the third public meeting in Histon and Impington about the safety improvements we’re undertaking along the busway. 

Residents are invited to come along and hear about the planned installation of separation fencing and to share their views about proposals for new crossing points and other measures being implemented.

In response to the feedback we've received so far, we're committed to reviewing formal crossing points and will be recommending to the Highways and Transport Committee that funding is allocated to install safe crossing points. 

We're also working with an ecologist as works are planned along the busway to ensure that our plans consider the impact on animals, particularly protected species. The separation fencing we are installing has mammal gaps included to help support small animals passing through. 

Temporary speed limits along the Busway

We’ve made temporary changes to speed limits along the Guided Busway as part of our ongoing commitment to ensure its safe operation.

The speed limit has been lowered to 30mph along the busway and 20mph at crossing points. This is temporary until permanent fencing and barriers have been installed across the whole Guided Busway. We’re reviewing these speed limits as each section of fencing is completed. You can read more about this here.

There is also now a 15mph limit along the maintenance track (the path that runs alongside the busway). Motorcycles and electric bikes that exceed 15mph are no longer allowed along the maintenance track. This is for the safety of everyone and is being implemented in partnership with the police. 

Flooding - Keep off the track

With the winter months approaching it’s likely we’ll see some parts of the path, which runs alongside the busway, flood. We know it’s frustrating when sections of the path flood and we are working to address these issues. We have carried out feasibility work to address the flooding along sections of the busway near the Holywell crossing and Fen Drayton. During flooding, when the gates are closed across the path, people still find ways to divert the flooded sections - causing a safety risk. Various solutions are being looked at, including a pontooned walkway.  

Please remember, the path will be closed due to flooding and there is a gate which is used to close the path and a sign which clearly states ‘flood, path ahead closed’. We would urge people – do not try and walk along the busway while it’s flooded. This is for your own safety. Alternative routes are available, please check and plan your journey before setting out.  

Flood gates are at Second Drove, just after leaving St Ives Park & Ride, Holywell (Fen Drayton), and Mo Fen (Swavesey).  

We are working hard to address flooding near the Holywell crossing and Fen Drayton, with design work planned for spring 2026. We plan to have these works in place for winter next year. Until then please stay safe and keep off the track.  

For enquiries about the Guided Busway newsletter, please contact Guided.Busway@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

This email was sent to bethany.clough@cambridgeshire.gov.uk using Microsoft Dynamics on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.

New Shire Hall, Alconbury, PE28 4YE

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