TfL starts work on Upper Holloway road bridge

Work to replace the Upper Holloway road bridge on the A1 Holloway Road in London has started.

Transport for London (TfL) is completely renewing the bridge as part of its continuing programme of road modernisation in the capital.

The work will see the century old bridge, which carries the A1 Holloway Road over National Rail lines in Islington, replaced with a new structure and improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in the area. Replacing the bridge will ensure the road can remain open for years to come without requiring weight or width restrictions as it reaches the end of its operational life. The new bridge will also provide improved headroom for London Overground trains running along the Gospel Oak to Barking line, allowing the line to be upgraded in the future.

Preliminary works have already begun to prepare the area for the installation of a new service bridge for utilities, such as gas and phone lines, later this year. This will make the replacement of the road bridge quicker and simpler, which will minimise disruption to road users.

Work to relocate utility services within the existing bridge to the new service bridge will then take place from the beginning of next year and carry on until summer 2016. Once completed, the new road bridge will not only provide better surfaces and stronger parapets, but street lighting along the A1 will also be upgraded.

Dana Skelley, director of asset management at TfL, said: “The A1 Holloway Road is a vital road for both businesses and commuters, linking central London to the M1 motorway. We need to ensure that it continues to remain usable and safe for years to come.

“We are committed to completing these works as quickly and efficiently as possible and will keep the local community and road users informed of progress as we work to deliver these vital improvements.”