Wheatfield Way

Connectivity and easier access

This key ring road, that includes parts Wheatfield Way, Clarence Street and College Roundabout has being upgraded under the Go Cycle Programme to improve the area and make better use of the space.

The scheme is designed to:

• improve the safety for all road users
• offer better accessibility to Kingston Town centre and key facilities
• transform facilities for cycling
• provide new public spaces 
• enhance the area to make it an attractive passageway through Kingston.

Implementing a smarter, more sustainable ‘Healthy Streets’ approach to evolving Kingston’s transport infrastructure, lies at the heart of how the Wheatfield Way scheme brings connectivity and a cleaner, lower emissions focus to ‘keeping people moving’ around Kingston Town Centre.
  
Completed in June 2019, the transformed Wheatfield Way scheme sits at the centre of the Go Cycle Programme network. It provides crucial connectivity in the centre of Kingston where many of the Go Cycle routes join, enabling cyclists travelling in from all corners of the borough to navigate their way around Kingston Town Centre.

The ‘Wheatfield Way’ route is a significant step forward in providing the connectivity Kingston residents and visitors to the borough have been waiting for.

• The scheme circumnavigates Kingston Town Centre, providing a dedicated two-way cycle track for cyclists travelling between Kingston Station and College Roundabout, past Old London Road, and Fairfield North.
• As it travels southwards it connects with the Kingston to Kingston Vale route travelling in from Kingston Hill, and joins with the cycle routes that serve Surbiton and ultimately Tolworth, along Penrhyn Road and the riverside Go Cycle routes - Portsmouth Road and Kingston High Street.

Cllr Hilary Gander,  Portfolio Holder for Environment & Sustainable Transport; 

"The completion of the Wheatfield Way Go Cycle lane represents a 'tipping point' in the development of Kingston's new cycling network. Residents will begin to see how all the Go Cycle schemes start to connect together, moving towards our vision of being able to ride length and breadth of the borough without the need to mix with cars, buses and heavy goods vehicles on some of our busiest main roads. To go by bike has the added incentive of knowing that it helps both our own health and that of our neighbours as we move about our borough, and is one way we can help improve air quality."      

Key Aspects

• Wheatfield Way carries a high volume of road vehicles around Kingston town centre. Opening up the road space, while removing features that encouraged faster driving speeds, introduces calmer road use, and better accommodation and visibility of non-vehicle users of the road space and carriageways.
• Removal of visual barriers, the improved alignment of the crossings, and the integration with the new cycle lanes with the paved areas has created a more harmonious environment. Pedestrians can move seamlessly and confidently from one side of Wheatfield Way to the other between the retail/leisure areas and residential roads to the East, and Fairfield Park area.
• 20mph zone and layout moderates vehicle speed reducing noise and emissions caused by erratic driving styles, heavy accelerating and braking.
• New crossings improve ease of passage for pedestrians and their visibility to road users.
• Upgraded traffic signalling operated by TfL utilises the latest advanced adaptive traffic management system SCOOT, which moderates traffic flow and optimises road users’ journey times. SCOOT helps minimize  congestion, improving the travelling experience around Kingston town centre, neighbouring roads and residential areas.
• Public realm - the new segregated cycle lanes and shared spaces revitalise the pedestrian areas, and enhance with new street lighting and low-level planted areas in the central reservations. New seating and planting outside Kingston Library form part of the redesign that extends through the Cattle Market area towards Kingston Station, and the shopping areas leading off Clarence Street, and around Old London Road's ‘Out of Order’ telephone boxes.
• Signage guiding cyclists and pedestrians is designed to ensure that everyone on the move can co-exist safely and with minimal conflict, as they move across and along Wheatfield Way.

Now that Wheatfield Way has undergone its transformation - improving connectivity, journey times, and ease of travel - this prompts residents and visitors to consider their travel behaviours, and the routes and modes of transport they choose as they move around the borough.   

Cllr Jon Tolley, Councillor for Grove Ward:

“I travel to and from the town centre most days, and Wheatfield Way offering a safe route to cycle, bypassing the busy bus/car filled roads makes the journey more fun and significantly more safe. Cycling is clean, quick and healthy, but for many it feels dangerous, and it's only when we see more of this excellent and safe cycling infrastructure that many more will choose bike as their preferred means of travel.”

Timeline:

• construction completed June 2019
• construction began October 2017
• plans approved by the Residents Committee on 14 September 2016
• public consultation took place from 20 June to 18 July 2016
• perception survey February to March 2016.