More changes announced to Sheffield city centre to help improve social distancing

Pinstone Street – one of the busiest roads in the centre of the city – has been shut to traffic to help people maintain social distancing and encourage walking and cycling in the area.

It is one of a number of areas throughout Sheffield where temporary changes have been introduced, including the A61 Shalesmoor and, more recently, parts of Fulwood Road and Glossop Road.

Sheffield City Council said “improvements” will include replacing the current barriers with a high kerb lined with planters, a new crossing connecting Pinstone Street with Cambridge Street and a new full accessible, step-free pavement.

While the council is yet to confirm how long temporary road closures will be in place in the city centre, Councillor Bob Johnson previously told The Star measures in the city centre will be remain “until we start moving out of lockdown.”

The transition to a ‘semi-permanent scheme’ on Pinstone Street will take about six weeks to complete. Bus routes that have been diverted from Pinstone Street will continue to travel from Charter Square to Arundel Gate.

Coun Johnson, cabinet member for transport and sustainability, said: “Social distancing remains essential in our efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in Sheffield and is likely to be needed for some time, so it’s important that our city centre can support this going forwards.

“The upgrading of this scheme will create a safe, attractive area in the heart of the city, which is really important as people start to travel into the centre to return to work and support our local businesses.”

The council has also applied for further active travel funding from the Government to improve the city’s cycling infrastructure and should find out if they have been successful by the end of August. That could result in improvement to the existing Sheaf Valley route and more low traffic neighbourhoods in Crookes and Nether Edge, subject to a public consultation.