Contractor replacing Sheffield city centre traffic calming damaged by unexpectedly high number of lorries
The raised kerbs are designed to narrow the carriageway and reduce vehicle speeds
A contractor is set to pay the majority of the cost of replacing a new traffic calming feature in Sheffield city centre road that failed.
John Sisk and Son is replacing ‘over-run kerbs’ on the Townhead Street roundabout.
Installed last year, the kerbs have been damaged by an unexpectedly high number of lorries. And Sisk, not the taxpayer, is bearing the repair costs, The Star understands.
The repairs have closed a busy commuter route on Broad Lane and Tenter Street, leading to the Dutch roundabout at West Bar.
The road is set to reopen by August 14, Sheffield City Council says.
The raised kerbs are designed to narrow the carriageway and reduce vehicle speeds on the roundabout.
In 2024, the city council said it would remodel the road to make it safer for pedestrians from Tenter Street and Broad Lane to get to the city centre.
The junction used to be a two-lane roundabout.
The council said then: “These works will enable residents to move conveniently and safely by foot or cycle to the city centre without the need to drive or utilise public transport.”
A two-way cycle lane on Tenter Street was also installed.
Commenting on The Star’s Facebook page, Jo Green wondered what the repairs had cost.
“Were all those designers and civil engineers unable to figure out that if thousands of cars have to run over these kerbs day after day after day, they are going to squish into the ground. They seemed a stupid feature when they were first installed,” she said.
Paddy McGinty added: “How many years did they spend on the changes to Tenter Street?
“Make the contractors foot the bill and compensate for the inconvenience.”