Flyover reopens to light traffic
Friday January 13, 2012
Hammersmith Flyover has today reopened – but in a restricted capacity, with only one lane open in each direction to cars, vans and other light vehicles.
Traffic restrictions are being enforced by a 6ft 6in width restriction at either end of the flyover to prevent large vehicles such as HGVs, lorries and coaches from crossing.
The re-opening comes following confirmation from Transport for London’s (TfL) engineers and experts that the flyover is now safe to take light traffic, while work by TfL continues to strengthen key sections of the road.
However, motorists are still being advised to stay away from the area if possible and plan their routes carefully to avoid getting caught in delays.
TfL says that it expects to take around four months to complete strengthening work on six of the 16 spans – the sections between two intermediate supports – by installing new cables, and hopes to open the flyover to all traffic before the Olympics in July. Once the games are over, TfL says its workers will return to the structure to strengthen the remaining ten spans of the flyover and waterproof the road.
TfL may also need to close the flyover overnight on some occasions to carry out work safely but this will be kept to a minimum.
While Hammersmith & Fulham Council (H&F Council) is welcoming the partial opening, it continues to press transport chiefs to get the works completed as quickly as possible, to avoid further disruption in the borough.
Deputy leader Cllr Nick Botterill said: “We’re pleased the flyover has partially reopened as it is good news for the borough’s residents and businesses, as well as the 90,000 motorists who use it every day. However, the road is still partly closed and there will be continuing delays so motorists should still try to avoid travelling via the flyover if at all possible.
“We are continuing to push TfL to finish these repair works as quickly as possible and reopen the road in full. Progress needs to be quick and we need to plan in earnest for the future months, and even years to come.”
Cllr Botterill this morning met transport minister Theresa Villiers MP at the flyover, so she could see for herself the corroded tensioning cables that support the structure. The damage has been caused by water and salt leaking into the structure over the years.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “I made it very clear the Hammersmith Flyover should not be closed for one minute longer than it has to be and this partial reopening will provide some relief for the thousands of motorists and local people whose lives have been disrupted.
“I can assure those people that I will ensure the team continues to work tirelessly in order to get this vital structure fully operational as soon as possible.”
Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer for surface transport at TfL said “Our engineers, contractors and suppliers have worked day and night during the Christmas period and beyond to enable us to partially reopen the flyover as quickly as possible. This should significantly reduce the traffic disruption many thousands of drivers have been experiencing since the flyover closed, and means that work to fully reopen the flyover will be completed well before the London 2012 Games.”
For further information, visit www.tfl.gov.uk (opens new window).
