Conservative mayoral candidate Paul Bristow has made the controlled reopening of Mill Road Bridge in Cambridge a centrepiece of his mayoral campaign. He says the move would restore vital accessibility for residents and local businesses while avoiding the traffic congestion that originally led to the closure.
His proposal includes designating Mill Road as a “red route”. In the UK, red routes are roads where stopping, parking, or loading is heavily restricted. Only specific vehicles — such as buses, taxis, or emergency services — are allowed to stop. Bristow argues this system would keep Mill Road moving, reduce bottlenecks, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
The bridge, which connects two key parts of Cambridge, was closed to most vehicles from 2020 to 2021. This closure sparked a heated local debate. Some supported the change for its environmental benefits, while others — particularly business owners — said it cut off trade and caused unnecessary delays. The closure decision fell to Cambridgeshire County Council, but it was influenced by a £4.29 million grant from the Department for Transport.
That funding came through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, aimed at boosting green public transport. To receive the funding, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority had to agree to restrict vehicle access on Mill Road Bridge.
Bristow claims the policy was pushed through without enough transparency and says it’s time to re-evaluate. “It’s time to be honest about how these decisions were made,” he said. “We can deliver better public transport and still have roads that work for residents, businesses, and families.”
Supporters say the red route idea could offer a compromise — keeping Mill Road flowing while protecting its environmental gains. But critics warn it could revive old traffic problems.
The debate continues ahead of May’s mayoral election.
