Work on slowing down the “race track” traffic pounding round St Paul’s gyratory surrounding the City’s most famous monument starts next month.
The 1970s road system which cuts off Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece from the rest of the City on two sides will be remodelled to make it easier to cross and friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists.
Work starts on April 28 and the first phase will take up to two years to complete.
The project will convert almost 1500 sq m of intimidating road space into pavements, reducing the distance to cross, and also add new crossings. It will also introduce more than 800 metres of east west and north south cycle lanes.
One way Newgate Street and St. Martin’s Le Grand will become two way.
There will also be a new 3000 sq m public space, Greyfriars Square with outdoor seating and play equipment next to the site of the former Christ Church Greyfriars - also a Wren design - which was largely destroyed in the Blitz in December 1940.
A huge bombsite left by the Blitz was cleared to make way for the gyratory in the Sixties. Under the new scheme three lanes of the southern end of King Edward Street will be closed to traffic to make the space for the square.
A garden was built in the late 1980s on the site of the church, which included box-edged beds representing the original position of the pews, and wooden towers representing the original stone columns, will remain.
Shravan Joshi, chairman of the City of London Corporation Planning and Transport Committee, said: “The St Paul’s Gyratory project will enhance all that the Square Mile offers, creating a welcoming walking route that connects the Tate Modern to the future London Museum.
“I am extremely proud that this is the biggest open space ever to be delivered in the City, which will have amenities that offer a place to rest, socialise and play.
“We are committed to deliver new public spaces for everyone to enjoy, in line with our ‘Destination City’ growth strategy to secure the Square Mile’s status as a world-leading place to invest.”
