Forum Topic

Chiswick Flyover Falling Apart

Was very concerned to spot the nets under the legs of the Chiswick Flyover appearing to be sagging under the weight of chunks of concrete falling off the support beams for the flyover. In some places the concrete looks like it’s about to burst through the net. If that is concrete and the nets rip and it drops 30ft through a windscreen people could be killed. Those nets are on dozens of those support beams and it seems astonishing the rubble is just sagging over an incredibly busy fast moving road underneath. This looks like a tragedy in the making. I have photos but if you are driving under the Chiswick flyover just look up at the black nets.

Andrew Farish ● 1167d33 Comments

I have reported this to TfL and Hounslow's transport team. I'll post an update when I have it. JoCouncillor for Chiswick Gunnersbury wardjoanna.biddolph@hounslow.gov.uk07976 703446

Joanna Biddolph ● 1167d

They have actually been there for most of the last two decades. De icing solution has leached into the reinforcing bars and forced them to swell which is cracked the concrete.  There will be no end to this until the reinforcing bars are encapsulated one by one (there are thousans of them) to prevent further corrosion.

N V Brooks ● 1167d

As far down as where Performance cars used to be bars can be seen rusting. I recall some work being done there. Steel bars encased with concrete are not ideal, and now we are reaping the rewards.

Nicholas Beard ● 1167d

I saw a sign the other day saying there are going to be night time closures along that stretch, probably for another patch up job to be carried out.

Adrian Irving ● 1167d

That section of road is the responsibility of National Highways.They have info on their website about planned works, including road closures:https://nationalhighways.co.uk/our-roads/south-east/south-east-maintenance-schemes/M4 Chiswick Flyover repairs – Monday 17 July to December 2023Updated 1 July 2023We’re carrying out repairs to the concrete piers which support the M4 Chiswick Flyover over the A4 Great West Road.This work is essential to keep the structure safe, extend its lifespan and reduce the risk of disruption from emergency repairs.We're currently working at the eastern end near junction 1 Chiswick roundabout. After this, we’ll resume work heading west through Brentford.Monday 3 to Friday 7 July 2023Planned closures – Chiswick roundabout 10pm to 5am To complete the remainder of our work, we’ll need to carry out some partial overnight closures of the Chiswick roundabout.The western section of the Chiswick roundabout will be closed overnight between the A4 westbound entry slip and A4 eastbound exit slip from Monday 3 July to Friday 7 July.Drivers will be diverted via A4, B455 and return. A clearly signed diversion for pedestrians will be in place via the footway through the centre of the roundabout and the fixed pedestrian crossing points at either side.Monday 17 July to December 2023Planned works and lane closures – Boston Manor Road to Clayponds AvenueAlthough we’ve already done some repairs here, we’ll need to return to complete part of this work and carry out repairs to some additional piers.We’ll reinstall scaffolding so we can safely access and repair the bridge piers, which will be enclosed to keep noise and dust to a minimum.Lane closures are needed in both directions between Boston Manor Road and Clayponds Avenue to provide a safe space for our team and protect the scaffolding in the central reservation.Monday 17 July for five nightsThe A4 will be closed overnight in both directions between Boston Manor Road and Ealing Road from 10pm to 5amA signed diversion will be in place in both directions between the A3002, A315 and B455. Drivers for Windmill Road will be diverted via B452, B4491 and B455.Monday 24 July for five nightsThe A4 will be closed in both directions between Ealing Road and Clayponds Avenue from 10pm to 5amA signed diversion will be in place in both directions via B455, A315 and Chiswick Roundabout.Changes to pedestrian crossingsWe’ve made some changes to the pedestrian crossing points at the Windmill Road and Ealing Road junctions so they can remain open once these safety measures are in place.For safety reasons, the protective steel barrier must remain in place across the Windmill Road junction.As with all our work so far, traffic on the M4 will remain unaffected while we’re undertaking these essential repairs.

Michael Robinson ● 1167d

Note TFL are currently refusing to reinstate the original light sequence at the A4 /Ealing Rd. Over the last few weeks this has caused terrible congestion that we never had before!Add to that problem the A4 lane closures and Windmill Rd/A4 junction closure as mentioned above  (fair enough)....it's going to be even worse congestion from next week.

Nick Jenkins ● 1167d

"Note TFL are currently refusing to reinstate the original light sequence at the A4 /Ealing Rd."From Cllr Lambert on brentfordtw8, he reported TfL as saying:"The previous Method of Control (MoC) was not compliant with modern safety standards and posed a risk to all road users. It was therefore not an option to replace the equipment and restore the previous MoC. Restoring the previous MoC would leave the previous risk of collisions in place"(The "Method of Control" is the design for a set of traffic signals covering the sequence of lights plus interaction with things like vehicle sensors in the road, pedestrian push button crossings)

Michael Robinson ● 1167d

TfL has replied to me to say it has "referred this to our contractor to urgently investigate and arrange for the issue to be made safe".

Joanna Biddolph ● 1167d

Collectively don't hold your breath!

Peter King ● 1166d

" Restoring the previous MoC would leave the previous risk of collisions in place"Yes officially illegal according to TFl....but years of evidence shows traffic flowed with very low risk of collisions. (stats seem to show ave of a minor injury once a year)TFL/Hounslow etc meeting tomorrow to try and work out a solution/

Nick Jenkins ● 1164d

It has always been difficult and dangerous junction going from Brentford to South Ealing Road.  The lack of accidents may just be because the same people use it and once they have realised that it has to be treated as a roundabout they have got used to it.

Philippa Bond ● 1163d

It's a roundabout and clearly marked as such. Many other roundabouts have lights on the approach. Anyone crashing on a roundabout should be ticketed for driving without due care and attention.

N V Brooks ● 1163d

Maybe there have been lots of near misses. After all C9 has operated for more than two years without a report of a pedestrian being injured in a collision with a cyclist but apparently that doesn’t disprove it’s a complete death trap. A minor collision a year at that junction? If C9 is a death trap, that’s Armageddon!

Tom Pike ● 1163d

"It's a roundabout and clearly marked as such"If you treat is as a conventional roundabout you're likely to cause a crash. There are traffic lights on the roundabout itself, which control vehicles turning right on to Ealing Road from the A4.

Richard Jennings ● 1163d

“If you treat is as a conventional roundabout you're likely to cause a crash.”Absolutely. It defies all the normal laws / rules of using a roundabout. It confuses everyone. People who are used to it are always hooting at those who are observing the traditional laws of roundabouts. Those who are driving in accordance with traditional laws risk having an accident. It is ridiculous.

Steve Taylor ● 1163d

It is only really a smaller version of light controlled roundabouts that exist on many much larger junctions. Once on the roundabout you have priority save for the fact that you need to observe the traffic signals. The same system as Maple Cross and the A404/ A40 at High Wycombe albeit,as I said, smaller.

N V Brooks ● 1163d

“ you have priority save for the fact that you need to observe the traffic signals”No you don’t have priority. If you are coming down Ealing Road and the traffic light is green for you as you reach the A4, you would expect that it’s ok for you to go, but it isn’t because you risk getting hit by cars coming around the roundabout where the light is green for them too. If you see them and give them right of way, cars behind you will hoot at you and wonder what the hell you are doing because the light is green for you so it is assumed that it is safe for you to go. It’s quite bizarre.

Steve Taylor ● 1163d

That's so true Steve.Bizarre is the word at the Ealing Road roundabout.

Jim Lawes ● 1163d

I treat it as a roundabout once entered and have never had an issue

N V Brooks ● 1162d

It's much better since there have been lanes when waiting at the lights to cross to go up to South Ealing.  When drivers blocked it so that you were in one long queue and stationary in the fast lane on the A4 while waiting to turn it was rather nerve racking.

Philippa Bond ● 1162d

“ I treat it as a roundabout once entered and have never had an issue“Then you have been very lucky.

Steve Taylor ● 1162d

Half a century of 'luck' it is then.

N V Brooks ● 1162d

You NV, me, everyone I've ever met and everyone who lives in Brentford who posts on social media.TfL have not produced any data and the liaison guy says he doesn't know if there are any problems but it is not in line with modern thinking. I doubt he really believes it, and he is a consistently helpful man, but they pay his wages.We had a session with National Highways yesterday (or their contractor) and I think they have got the message, in Brentford anyway, though as always the proof is in the pudding.

Guy Lambert ● 1162d

You only have to look at the 'GSK' juction to see how well TfL has embrace 'modern' or even 'joined-up' thinking. East bound A4 traffic halts 15 seconds before Westbound traffic to enable the left turn filter from Boston Manor Road to clear. The problem is that the filter ha never been implemented so the traffic is stalled with no reason.

N V Brooks ● 1162d

Funny, I noticed that oddity a couple of days ago (not for the first time). i always assumed it was something to do with pedestrians but it isn't as far as i can see.Not sure if we're talking the same junction - i mean Boston Manor Road.

Guy Lambert ● 1161d

Funny, I noticed that oddity a couple of days ago (not for the first time). i always assumed it was something to do with pedestrians but it isn't as far as i can see.Not sure if we're talking the same junction - i mean Boston Manor Road.

Guy Lambert ● 1161d

Yes Guy, that's the one.If TfL actually implemented the filter it would clear another 5 of 6 vehicles per 'phase' leading to BMR clearing quicker and fewer complaints about the Swyncombe Ave closure.

N V Brooks ● 1161d

My friend suffered a cracked rib after being hit by a cyclist on C9 late last year. She didn't report it because she felt it was partly her fault and the cyclist made a quick exit so what was the point?

Felicity Caborn ● 1158d

"Half a century of 'luck' it is then."Just 20+ yrs luck for me too!Extremely small Risk/ huge reward at this junction is obvious to see.

Nick Jenkins ● 1157d

The nearest you come to an accident is leaving the lights under the elevated section to turn towards Brentford down Ealing Road when numpties try to create their own lane to gain a single car advantage

N V Brooks ● 1157d

Didn't the Kray twins offer their support? I blame Jayne Mansfield.

Brian Coyle ● 1156d

Ha, Ginger Marks in the foundations and more probably or just rumours.

Janice Evans ● 1155d

I raised it with a man from TfL on Wednesday. Remind me in a bit if nothing happens, NV.

Guy Lambert ● 1155d