Transport for London (TfL) has received support for the plans, which include re-routing the A3 and A205 South Circular to the north of the town centre along Armoury Way in both directions, from local residents and stakeholders.
By re-routing the existing road network and restricting the central section of Wandsworth High Street between Garratt Lane and Buckhold Road to buses and cyclists only, the scheme would also free the main shopping area of the current high levels of congestion and take traffic away from the busy town centre. Removing congestion in the busy town centre would also provide a number of additional benefits:
- Space for buses, cyclists, local traffic and service vehicles only
- Improvements to pedestrian space and crossings
- Better positioning of bus stops in the town centre
- A cycle-friendly environment.
As well as support for the scheme, the initial consultation also indicated a number of areas of concern to local residents, including journey times, rat running and problems around local access to the town centre all of which are being addressed. Detailed information about the two-way operation of the road network, surrounding public realm, and new cycling and pedestrian facilities along Wandsworth High Street will be the focus of a secondary public consultation at the end of 2015. Subject to the outcome of this consultation, work could begin as early as 2017 and be delivered during 2019 as one of a number of major gyratories that TfL and the London boroughs are looking at removing over the next 10 years.
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "This car-clogged one-way system has made the area particularly hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. These major improvements will see the junction completely transformed and turned into a much more civilised place for everyone, encouraging more people to use the local high street and driving wider regeneration of the area."
