Map reveals how one of London’s most dangerous junctions could be transformed
Travelling through one of London’s most notorious junctions could soon be different if plans to shake it up go ahead.
The ‘Shoreditch Triangle’ area in east London was named the capital’s second most dangerous junction for cyclists.
The junction at Curtain Road and Great Eastern Street has seen 14 crashes in the last three years, including a fatal collision which killed a pedestrian in 2022. A cyclist was fatally injured and later died following a crash.
Now Londoners are being asked to give their opinion on a plan TfL and Hackney Council hope will make the area safer.
It proposes new cycling and pedestrian crossings and restricting two left turns for motorised vehicles.
Other changes include widened pavements and deeper stop lines for cyclists to get ahead of cars at the traffic lights.
What road changes are being proposed in Shoreditch
The plans at the junction and nearby crossings include dozens of improvements affecting pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. Here are some of the key upgrades.
- New toucan crossing on Curtain Road north of New Inn Yard
- A raised road on the level with the footway to slow traffic down at the junction of Charlotte Street, Leonard Street and Phipp Street
- Widened footways and crossings on Curtain Road north of New Inn Yard and at the junction of Great Eastern Street and Curtain Road
- Remove the traffic island and the left turn slip road at the Great Eastern Street and Curtain Road junction
- Reallocating one general traffic lane of Curtain Road between Scrutton Street and Great Eastern Street to pedestrians
- Blocking motorised traffic from turning left from Great Eastern Street into Curtain Road to reduce drivers doing a left hook turn by overtaking a cyclist and then turning left across their path
- Stopping vehicles from making a left turn from Curtain Road into Great Eastern Street, while allowing cyclists to turn left at the junction to avoid the risk of left hook turns
- All advanced stop lines at the junction would become 7.5m deep
The plans also include design changes at the Great Eastern Street junction with Shoreditch High Street.
Simon Munk, the head of campaigns at London Cycling Campaing, said the junction is ‘so hostile for cycling that ‘few people dare cycle here and most try and avoid it.’
The current layout of the junction ‘represents a major risk to their safety,’ he said, adding that cyclists suffered nine slight and nine serious injuries between 2019 and 2023.
While the TfL proposal might reduce the collision rates for pedestrians and cyclists, the plans ‘won’t make this junction comfortable or safe for people,’he said.
The LCC has urged TfL to install separate signals for cyclists rather than deeper cycle boxes at traffic lights, saying they ‘wouldn’t look out of place from the 90s.’
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Mr Munk said London needs ‘bolder schemes that start to reduce private motor vehicle capacity to give the space for walking, wheeling and cycling.’
Will Norman, London’s walking and cycling commissioner, said previously: ‘The Mayor and TfL are committed to investing in work to improve safety at some of London’s most dangerous and intimidating junctions, and these proposals will make it safer and easier for Londoners to walk and cycle in the area.’
Hackney Council said it supports TfL’s plans to ‘improve road safety in Shoreditch.’
People can leave their comments on the consultation until February 10.
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