Fury over chaotic European-style roundabout with 31 traffic lights

•  Locals have criticised the 'insane' amount of lights around the city junction
• They say the amount of lights are a 'total waste of money' and possible hazard

Angry residents have slated a council for installing an incredible 31 sets of traffic lights on a new four-way roundabout in Cambridge, saying it looks like 'absolute chaos.'

Many have taken to Facebook to complain after the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) added the 'insane' amount of lights to the junction on Milton Road, north of the city centre, which is set to open in the next two weeks.

The new CYCLOPS (Cycling Optimised Protected Signals) junction separates pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic and is part of a £24m scheme to improve travel in the area.

The junction separates pedestrians and cyclists from motorised traffic

It is part of a £24 million scheme to improve travel in the area

It is the second of its kind in the UK, outside Greater Manchester, where it was originally conceived and is designed to prioritise the safety of people walking and cycling.

But furious residents say the enormous amount of lights are a 'total waste of money' and will make the junction 'an accident waiting to happen.'

James Nathaniel wrote on Facebook: 'There must be a limit on what information a driver should be expected to be able to process at a junction. Information overload already.

'Then combine that with people on cycles not stopping at the red lights and others trying to push through. It's too much and an accident waiting to happen. How do you then attribute blame to the accidents?'

Brian Fromant added: 'What a total waste of money' and Jane Mottram wrote: 'How is anyone supposed to make sense of the lights, the speed limit, the road markings … all in one go? It's insane!'

Lisa Thomas said: 'This just looks like absolute chaos to me' and David Steel wrote: 'It will look great at Christmas. Maybe they will add a bit of tinsel too.'

Trevyn Riekert wrote: 'Why does such a small roundabout need traffic lights now? It never needed one. The traffic flows just fine. Do these city planners actually drive around Cambridge?'

Zebra crossings on each side provide a safe place to cross the cycle lane

Pedestrians cross at the same time as cyclists

It comes after the council had to release a YouTube video tutorial explaining how to use the other CYCLOPS junction in Cambridge, which was built three years ago, because people are still struggling to navigate it.

The CYCLOPS junctions feature a protected cycle lane which encircles the junction, keeping cyclists separate from both motor traffic and pedestrians.

People cycling can make a signal-free left turn at any point or use the dedicated cycle buttons to access the green phase of traffic signals, allowing them to make a right turn or travel straight on without having to mix with vehicles.

Pedestrians cross at the same time as cyclists, but on a separate ring of paths in the middle of the junction, whilst zebra crossings on each side provide a safe place to cross the cycle lane.

Councillor Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP's Executive Board, said earlier this year: 'Construction on the Milton Road project is making good progress, and it will make significant improvements to people's everyday lives and journeys when it is fully open.

'The CYCLOPS junction has been an excellent addition to Histon Road, and this new junction will provide similar benefits to people travelling along Milton Road. It is part of our ambition to deliver first-class walking and cycling infrastructure to encourage more people to travel sustainability.'

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