Festival for kerb-free road
The kerb-free road at the heart of London's museum district was today nearing completion as plans were unveiled for a major festival.
Exhibition Road has been turned into a "shared space" for traffic and pedestrians with a 20mph speed limit after a £28 million redevelopment.
Work on the road, which is home to the Victoria & Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum and is near to the Royal Albert Hall, has led to traffic delays.
It was opened to vehicles earlier this month with barriers showing cars, cyclists and pedestrians how to share the road before its official opening next year. Officials behind the scheme hope the road, which is now marked with a series of large Xs, will encourage motorists to drive with greater awareness and consideration for pedestrians. Last year the charity Guide Dogs took Kensington and Chelsea council to a judicial review after claiming visually impaired pedestrians would not realise that they were straying on to the road if the kerbs were removed.
The authority introduced an 800mm-wide strip of ridged paving to help people distinguish between the road and the pavement.
It today launched the Road Show, described as "London's most sophisticated street party" and scheduled to be held on Exhibition Road during the first nine days of the Olympics. It will feature a carnival, acrobats, musicians and artists.
