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Drivers urged to allow extra time for their journey on Torch Relay day

21 June 2012

As the excitement of the Olympic Torch in Peterborough draws closer, Peterborough City Council is planning to keep traffic disruption to a minimum.

Everyone is invited to line the streets and cheer the inspirational Torchbearers who will carry the Flame through Peterborough on the evening of Tuesday 3 July 2012.

However, residents are being advised to expect traffic delays particularly when the convoy travels along the route when it will be escorted by police.

Between 6.30pm and 7.20pm the following roads will be closed:

  • Bourges Boulevard in a south easterly direction from Crescent Bridge roundabout to the Rivergate roundabout. There will be no access to or egress from Priestgate, Trinity Street and Wentworth Street.
  • Midgate and Long Causeway from their junctions with Broadway and Westgate.
  • City Road. There will be no access to or egress from Northminster on to City Road.
  • Boongate westbound from its junction with Frank Perkins Parkway.
  • St John’s Street from the roundabout at its junction with Boongate. There will be no access to or egress from Wellington Street
  • Bishop’s Road between the entrance to the Wirrina Car Park and Rivergate.
  • Fengate in a westerly direction from its junction with Boongate, except for access to properties and businesses.
  • Rivergate southbound from its junction with Bishop’s Road.

Long Causeway and Church Street will be closed from 12noon on Tuesday 3 July until 12 noon on Wednesday 4 July to facilitate the events in the city centre.

Between 10pm and 10.15pm on Tuesday 3 July, the following roads will be closed to allow crowds leaving the Embankment:

  • Bourges Boulevard in a south easterly direction from Crescent Bridge roundabout to the Rivergate roundabout. There will be no access to or egress from Priestgate, Trinity Street and Wentworth Street.
  • Bishop’s Road between its junction with Vineyard Road and Rivergate.
  • London Road in a northerly direction from its junction with Oundle Road.
  • Rivergate

The following day, when the Torch continues its journey, the following roads will be closed between 7am and 8am: Long Causeway, Broadway, Burghley Square, Burghley Road, Lincoln Road, Maskew Avenue, Bourges Boulevard and Lincoln Road. Access to and egress from all side roads along this route will be restricted for approximately ten minutes.

The following roads will be closed between 7am and 7.40am:

  • Broadway at its junctions with both Westgate and Midgate
  • Broadway at its junction with Crawthorne Road
  • Burghley Square at its junction with Park Road (southbound)
  • Burghley Square at its junction with Lincoln Road (northbound)
  • Lincoln Road at its junction with Dogsthorpe Road
  • Lincoln Road at its junction with Taverners Road
  • Taverners Road (eastbound) at its junction with Bourges Boulevard

All junctions will be re-opened to traffic once the Torch Relay has passed.

Bishop’s Road car park will be closed from 8pm on Sunday 1 July 2012 until Wednesday 4 July 2012 so that it can be used as a base for the support vehicles for the event.

Annette Joyce, Head of Commercial Operations for Peterborough City Council, said: “The Torch Relay is a prestigious event, but with something of this size traffic disruption will be inevitable along the route. Signs warning of possible delays are being put up along the route so that people have enough time to make alternative arrangements or plan extra time for their journey.

“All roads will be reopened as quickly as possible to keep traffic disruption to a minimum.”

At 5.15pm on Tuesday 3 July, the Torch will be carried through Burghley House Estate and Gardens.  It will then travel to Nene Valley Railway from Wansford station to Orton Mere station.

From Orton Mere, at 6.35pm, the Torch will travel up Oundle Road until turning left on to London Road and passing over Town Bridge.  The torch will then be taken along Lower Bridge Street across Bourges Boulevard and into Upper Bridge Street, before turning right through the Cathedral’s gateway. It will then pass through Dean’s Court, into Wheel Yard and right into City Road.

The final part of the journey will see the Torch pass through St John’s Street, into Vineyard Road, turning right on to Bishop’s Road, then into Rivergate and Embankment Road before arriving at the city’s Embankment at 7.20pm.

A free programme of events will take place at the Embankment between 4.30pm and 10pm.

Councillor Marco Cereste, Leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "This is Peterborough's moment to shine in the light of the Olympic Torch - a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the legendary Flame and be a part of the event. I am encouraging all of our communities to come along and enjoy the spectacle and give the Olympic Torch Relay a first class welcome."

Ends.