Forum Topic

Lane closures on A316 in Chiswick over Dec & Jan

Received this letter today thru the mailbox:Great Chertsey Road: Essential maintenance of A316 Grove Park BridgeI am writing to let you know that from 6 December 2021 to 17 January 2022 essential maintenanceand refurbishment works will be carried out to Grove Park Bridge on the A316 Great Chertsey Road. Please note, there are two bridges with the name 'Grove Park Bridge in this area. We will work on the bridge over the rail track just north of Chiswick Bridge on the A316 Great Chertsey Road. We will not be working on the 'Grove Park Bridge located off Grove Park Road nearer Chiswick rail station. These works will improve the long-term condition of the bridge, road surface and pavements. How our works may affect you We will work on weekdays from 08:00 until 17:00 and Saturdays from 08:00 to 13:00.We will also work 24 hours a day across two weekends -17 to 20 December 2021 and 14 to 17 January 2022 –during this period. This will enable us to get as much work done as possible and speed up the overall programme The noisiest works will be carried out before 23:00 every night. As agreed with the London Borough of  Hounslow we won't work between 20 December 2021 and 3 January 2022. We will make every effort to finish the works on time, although poor weather conditions may mean we need to reschedule at short notice. Traffic Lane closures will be in place on the A316 Great Chertsey Road on the approaches to Grove Park Bridge-from Chiswick Bridge to the south ,and Hogarth roundabout to the north-24hours a day for the duration of the works, If you plan to drive, please allow more time to complete your journey Pedestrians The pavement along the A316 Great Chertsey Road will be closed in the northbound direction from 6 to 20 December 2021, and in the southbound direction from 4 to 17 January 2022. We will clearly signpost the temporary closures, and a safe pedestrian diversion route will be provided. Buses Northbound bus stop 'Staveley Road' (Stop R) will be suspended from 6 December to 20 December 2021. The nearest alternative stop is Alexandra Avenue' (Stop S). Visit tfl.gov.uk/bus/status for live updates. We thank you for your patience while we completetheseimprovements. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the details at the top of this letter. Yours faithfully, 

Ceinwen Mailvaganam ● 1797d21 Comments

I received the same letter this morning.There is going to be long tail backs on either side of the (Grove Park Bridge on the A316 as TFL call it).But the Railway Bridge just up from Staveley Road on the A316 has actually got a name. Its call the Alexandra Bridge, the name taken from that part of the A316 which is called Alexandra Avenue. So these works along side the "Repairs To The Westway To Require Closures Until Next Summer" is going to caused a lot of traffic problems to West London.

Bernard Allen ● 1797d

Will be a bit parky on our bikes, but needs must I guess. Maybe some Black Friday deals to pick one up cheap too.

Rob Reynolds ● 1797d

So just to be clear this will mean lane closures not a total closure?Scheduling major road projects in winter and crossing over the Christmas holidays makes no sense and I don't think the timing of this and the parallel announcement of the Westway closure is coincidental. Even money that TfL have underspent on their roads budget and didn't want this to be apparent when they were negotiating with the government so have rushed through some schemes.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1797d

Traffic Lane closures will be in place on the A316 Great Chertsey Road on the approaches to Grove Park Bridge-from Chiswick Bridge to the south ,and Hogarth roundabout to the north-24hours a day for the duration of the works, If you plan to drive, please allow more time to complete your journey Pedestrians The pavement along the A316 Great Chertsey Road will be closed in the northbound direction from 6 to 20 December 2021, and in the southbound direction from 4 to 17 January 2022. We will clearly signpost the temporary closures, and a safe pedestrian diversion route will be provided. As you say having the works on the west way and this project isn’t ideal , then add on the proposed extra road schemes by Hounslow Council, to roads leading off the A316 you have utter mayhem all over the festive season.I wonder while working on the bridge itself, if a traffic light system will be used to let traffic over on one side only.

Bernard Allen ● 1797d

So for anyone living in South Chiswick it will be a nightmare especially as it has been announced to extend the access/closure times of  Staveley Rd and introduce no entry to Burlington Lane from A316. We will all be adding to emissions hence pollution having to drive full circle to access Sutton court rd. Oh and if we want to access SCR travelling eastbound along A4 we now have to travel to Hogarth roundabout and back as no loop round Porsche garage.  The best we can hope for is that Xmas is cancelled again, which judging by the number of antivaxxers and lack of mask wearing will probably be the case anyway.  Tis the season to be jolly….fa la  lalla la.

Alina Dansord ● 1797d

What next in Grove Park - road closures-big  fines for many many roads -total disregard for residents who need deliveries and friends visiting etc - and people who need to live their normal lives - showing us when the bikes will not be out there  when the weather gets bad. Just hope the Council will at last see what they are doing.  I hold no hope.  No hope for the rest of Chiswick.

Helen Bamberger ● 1797d

Helen, do you not think Hounslow know exactly what they are doing. I hope this is not by accident, that would make them incompetent , rather than just plain evil. No one wants an incompetent Council

Maggie Dodge ● 1796d

Interesting Maggie - I agree

Helen Bamberger ● 1796d

Never assume malice when things can be explained by stupidity.It is the nature of these type of repairs/maintenance that Tfl will have been planning them for some time.That LBH decided to implement the latest round of ill conceived road closures to Staveley and Burlington just before TfL starts the necessary repairs/maintenance is comical.  I think we can safely assume that no one at LBH thought about asking TfL whether there was any planned works that would affect.If on the other hand I am wrong and LBH was fully aware of the planned works but deliberately decided to implement their latest scheme to ensure that the works had the maximum possible effect on traffic then it would be interesting to see if the Ombudsman would have something to say about it

Justin Stephenson ● 1795d

There have been suggestions for years that Hounslow disliked Chiswick, for want of a better description of their feelings.  What they are currently doing and have done over the period of the pandemic, in terms of the cycle lane, road closures, bus gates etc feels vindictive to me. Chiswick is awash with a variety of things that are making life difficult. I’d love an unbiased opinion on their behaviour by someone/ organisation with teeth.

Maggie Dodge ● 1795d

It is unlikely Hounslow knew in advance about these schemes before planning the traffic restrictions. Jeremy is probably right when he suggests that the timing of this is to ensure that TfL doesn't have unallocated budgets when going into the negotiations. It may have been in the planning stage a long time but funding it seems to have been a short term decision - if not why wasn't it done during the summer holidays?Chances are TfL and Hounslow are at odds over the Grove Park restrictions. The objective is to divert traffic onto roads controlled by TfL which they must already have capacity concerns about. Under normal circumstances such projects would never be funded but right now TfL are simply acting as a teller for the disbursement of government grants and are too powerless to object. Choosing to do the work on the A316 now may be a small act of revenge on Hounslow.

Mark Evans ● 1795d

"Chances are TfL and Hounslow are at odds over the Grove Park restrictions."They aren't.  The original funding for the entire project was provided by TfL under the Liveable Neighbourhoods project and to get the money Hounslow submitted applications describing what they wanted to do.  A limited number of boroughs were awarded funding by TfL and Hounslow was one of them.  As the original announcement from TfL said, the project objectives were "The introduction of school streets and low-traffic neighbourhoods in residential areas south of the A4".  Hounslow have continued to receive funding from TfL for the project.That means preventing traffic cutting through Grove Park from the A316 to the A4 and keeping it on the A316.It is a mistake to think TfL want traffic to cut through minor residential roads rather than keeping it on the major road network.  Keeping traffic on the major road network means management of traffic is easier including introducing schemes like the ULEZ and possibly road pricing in the future.

Michael Robinson ● 1795d

Michael I think you have missed the object of the whole thread.Thread is about, if Hounslow go ahead now with the added Grove Park restrictions. They will be pushing more traffic  onto the A316 at a time  when TFL are reducing the A316 to half of its capacity for approximately 2  months.Combine that with the West Way project starting at the same time, the main roads in west London will become busier all round.So if Hounslow Council go ahead with the extra restrictions at the same time . It’s hardly going help TFL control the traffic flow withe two major roads virtually out of action.

Bernard Allen ● 1795d

So really you seem to be saying Bernard that you think Hounslow should be prioritising the drivers from Sheen, Slough and anywhere else who think they can shorten their journey time by cutting through Grove Park as being more important than the residents of Grove Park.

Michael Robinson ● 1795d

It’s not me that’s wants the traffic to go along Sutton court road.TfL is a bit miffed that extra restrictions maybe implement while there  is a heavy restriction across west London.Sorry Micheal you have become a selfish person and want your cake and eat it.Some time other people have to compromise due to unexpected situations.Your want to get off your high and mighty pedestal once in a while to really see what’s happening in the world , not just your little poxy road.If you were really concerned about clean air and pollution why aren’t you getting involved with Hounslow creating extra vehicle pollution  by constructing,  new car parking, coach parking and turning, and the odd lorry bay.It’s already creating a lot more traffic and making a place dangerous where lots of children have to cross to get to school. But you and your highl and mighty mates don’t stick you big nose in there, Why because it’s not Grove Park.I’m sorry something has to give and the Grove Park residents will just have to put up with,it.  a bit like we have to put up with Riverside drive becoming so busy due to the traffic engineers. The same engineers that are doing something different on the other side of the A316.You and your mates It’s already creating a lot more traffic and making a place dangerous where lots of children have to cross to get to school. But you and your highl and mighty mates don’t stick you big nose in there, Why because it’s not Grove Park.I’m sorry something has to give and the Grove Park residents will just have to put up with,it.  a bit like we have to put up with Riverside drive becoming so busy due to the traffic engineers. The same engineers that are doing so thing different on the other side of the A316.You and your mates live with double standards it’s all what your tiny little clan wants, not the long standing residents of Chiswick.As far as I’m concerned it’s the residents of Burlington Lane and Sutton Court Road who have brought about these latest round of restrictions.So I don’t have any sympathy for them.There are over 2000+ residents being ostracised by your clan and Hounslow Council. live with double standards it’s all what your tiny little clan wants, not the.o g standing residents of Chiswick.As far as I’m concerned it’s the residents of Burlington Lane and Sutton Court Road who have brought about these latest round of restrictions.So I don’t have any sympathy for them.There are over 2000+ residents being ostracised by your clan and Hounslow Council.

Bernard Allen ● 1795d

Edited version of the last post, my iPad decided to double a lot of the pargraphs because I wouldn't let it do what It wanted to do.PostIt’s not me that’s wants the traffic to go along Sutton court road.TfL is a bit miffed that extra restrictions maybe implement while there  is a heavy restriction across west London.Sorry Michael you have become a selfish person and want your cake and eat it.Some time other people have to compromise due to unexpected situations.Your want to get off your high and mighty pedestal once in a while to really see what’s happening in the world, not just your little poxy road.If you were really concerned about clean air and pollution why aren’t you getting involved with Hounslow creating extra vehicle pollution  by constructing,  new car parking, coach parking and turning, and the odd lorry bay.It’s already creating a lot more traffic and making a place dangerous where lots of children have to cross to get to school. But you and your high and mighty mates don’t stick you big nose in there, Why because it’s not Grove Park.I’m sorry something has to give and the Grove Park residents will just have to put up with it.  a bit like we have to put up with Riverside drive becoming so busy due to the traffic engineers. The same engineers that are doing something different on the other side of the A316.You and your mates live with double standards it’s all what your tiny little clan wants, not the long standing residents of Chiswick.As far as I’m concerned it’s the residents of Burlington Lane and Sutton Court Road who have brought about these latest round of restrictions.So I don’t have any sympathy for them.There are over 2000+ residents being ostracised by your clan and Hounslow Council.

Bernard Allen ● 1795d

TfL were clearly on board with the original South Chiswick Neighbourhood Plan as the displacement onto the A316 and Hogarth Roundabout wasn't significant. That they are sensitive to this isn't open to question as traffic entering Grove Park from the west on the A4 is actually diverted away from Hogarth Roundabout onto residential streets.What is less clear is whether they were happy with the most recent changes to the scheme. Although the money is technically coming from them they are only really the disbursement agent and it is very debatable how much say they actually have compared to the Department for Transport. Certainly if there was significant extra congestion at Hogarth Roundabout they would be concerned.The potential problem for them is that if Staveley Road is restricted and Burlington Lane is closed then the tailbacks on the A316 may reach the Hogarth Roundabout. Previously some of queue would have dissipated through Grove Park but now, once you are stuck on the A316 you'd have to stay there. Before someone jumps on me and saying I'm trying to justify traffic being redirected through Grove Park, I'm not, I'm just pointing to the practical consideration that TfL will be very concerned about a logjam at the Hogarth Roundabout snarling up the A4 and M4 just the pressure on these roads is set to increase due to the Westway closures.

Mark Evans ● 1795d

Mark, TfL do more than just hand over the cash. There is a process in place to make sure it is being spent effectively and in this case, being effective means keeping  traffic on the A316 and stopping it cutting through Grove Park.There is a mistaken belief from some that TfL want minor residential roads to provide “relief” for major arterial routes. They don’t.

Michael Robinson ● 1794d

"Chiswick is awash with a variety of things that are making life difficult." There is more to come in phase 3 that will be rolled out after the local elections in May 2022.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1794d

I do think that Mr Evans [in his afternoon post of the 25th] raises some good points.  Without discussing the rights or wrongs of the Hartington Road mess, the Railway Bridge is equidistant from the Chalkers Corner crucial junction to Kew & Mortlake, and also the A4 / M4 roundabout at Hogarth.  There must now be people, at either TfL and/or Hounslow, worried about the complete collapse of the W4 /SW14 road system.Whilst this is only four weeks of Roadworks, for 17 days up to 20/12, and then a fortnight from 03/01/22, gridlock due to backlog following an A316 accident near Chalkers A205 or Hogarth is a real possibility.  No access through Hartington would worsen any Northbound situation.  Emergency vehicles may be compromised - it wouldn’t take much.  I hope Hounslow Council may be sitting on their hands re the Staveley/Burlington extra restrictions!  Otherwise heads might roll.I predict, here and now, that any such potential accident will involve a motorbike or a Learner scooter ‘driving’ on the wrong side of the A316.  Their collective A316 driving [along the dangerous central white line] is truly awful.

Peter Crowther ● 1794d

There doesn’t seem to be my joined up thinking if critical work is required on the bridge they should open up alternative routes, local residents are being forced to make diversions to to go anywhere it is utter madness. Clearly TFL and Hounslow council do not consult on how to minimise traffic disruption when works are being carried out.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1794d