Transport for London (TfL) has set out plans to ‘completely renew and strengthen’ the Gallows Corner flyover, allowing it to continue serving Londoners for decades to come.
The transport authority said the flyover, which was built in the 1970s as a temporary structure, is now in a very poor condition and in urgent need of renewal, with speed and weight restrictions in place for years to allow it to continue to operate safely.
It said a major renewal project, which is being funded by the Government’s Major Road Network (MRN) programme and the Mayor of London, must now take place to avoid future disruption.
The project will involve the complete renewal and replacement of the entire structure, other than its foundations, which TfL said will allow for the removal of speed and weight restrictions.
Pedestrian and cycle crossings will also be installed alongside improved road markings and resurfacing.
There will be a series of lane closures on some arms of Gallows Corner roundabout from 10 March until June, after which there will be a full closure of Gallows Corner junction, both roundabout and flyover, to all traffic except emergency services and TfL Buses until September.
From September, there will be overnight lane closures at Gallows Corner roundabout for resurfacing works. The flyover will remain open.
TfL's director of capital delivery, Scott Haxton, said the work was essential to ensure that the road network in Havering and beyond can continue to operate safely and effectively ‘for years to come’, adding that TfL had worked to ‘minimise disruption as much as possible’.
Last May, Julia Lopez Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster, announced that she had ‘secured’ funding for the refurbishment, with the Department for Transport (DfT) awarding up to £57.3m of the £67.373m cost.
Her website noted that her campaign to find a long-term solution had been running since 2018, when ‘following her lobbying efforts’ with the then transport secretary, Chris Grayling, the project was shortlisted as being able to bid for Government funding ‘via the Major Roads Programme’ (sic).
Mr Grayling had in fact announced that the scheme would be funded through the MRN in his 2018 Conservative Party conference speech, before his department revealed the network itself.
TfL said it continues to work with the DfT towards the funding of further MRN schemes, including renewals schemes at Brent Cross and Croydon flyovers and Catford town centre.
