Hammersmith & Fulham Council is today demanding that London’s transport chiefs re-open Hammersmith Flyover as quickly as possible and offer practical alternatives in the meantime.
Transport for London closed the flyover on the A4 on December 23 with no advance warning, saying that ‘a serious structural defect’ meant it had to be shut to traffic. The closure, which came after several weeks of TfL inspecting the structure, has left motorists stuck in long tailbacks and caused traffic jams across west London over the past week.
H&F Council is calling for a full explanation into why TfL has closed the section of road and when it will be reopened. All TfL will currently say is that the flyover will be closed while engineers ‘undertake an even more detailed assessment of the complete structure’ until at least early January - including the New Year weekend when many motorists will be returning to London after the festive break.
“We want to get to the bottom of what is happening, as it is simply inconceivable that the main route into and out of London in the west remains closed and may not even reopen in time for the end of the holidays.
“We are in continuous contact with TfL’s most senior officials, as well as the engineers on the ground, and are demanding that we get real answers to our questions about what is happening, why the closure is necessary and when this problem will be solved. We have written to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Mayor of London about this, and Peter Hendy, commissioner of Transport for London, has already agreed to meet us early next week to explain what the problem is and how it will be resolved. We need action - and quickly.
“The closure is a disaster for local residents, motorists and the borough’s economy, and this council will do everything in its power to mitigate any further adverse impact a continued closure will have.”
Cllr Botterill has also demanded that TfL keeps officers and the council cabinet briefed on the situation as and when it changes.
Over the past two years, engineers from TfL have been carrying out detailed monitoring inside the unique 1960s flyover, in particular, checking the condition of the internal cables which help to hold the concrete structure in place.
It was thought that it would be a number of years before major repair works would be needed but last week, TfL identified further technical problems, meaning that the works are needed sooner rather than later.
Leon Daniels, TfL's managing director of surface transport, says:
“Our team has been working around the clock alongside world leading structural engineers to ensure we carry out a detailed assessment of the structure as soon as possible. Safety must be our top priority and we have not taken the decision to close the flyover lightly.
“We will be continuing to work day and night to complete our assessment and to set out our next steps. In the meantime the flyover will remain closed until at least early in the New Year and drivers are strongly advised to avoid the area if they can or allow more time for their journeys.
“I would like to apologise for the disruption, but please be assured we are doing all we can to reopen the flyover and to minimise the disruption the closure is causing.”
TfL has put in place diversions and advance warning signs, including on the M4, advising drivers of the closure and suggesting alternative routes.
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