Forum Topic

Kew Bridge roadworks

I wonder just when these interminable roadworks will be completed.Continents drift at a faster pace.I have to go to and from work this way and quite often there is no one working on them at all.But I forgot, sod the motorist let him wait.What makes it worse is that Hammersmith Bridge is also closed indefinitely, although I wonder if  the bright spark (no doubt an 'expert')took this into account when planning(ha ha) these works.

Keith Iddon ● 2009d57 Comments

The view of the cranes and buildings going up, from the bridge would make some great photographs.  Has to be with the cranes.

Sarah Felstead ● 1972d

A full hour to get from Gunnersbury Stn to Morrisons on a Sunday!!It's just not acceptable.If all these very costly infrastructure changes are necessary just for a benefit to what will always be a tiny percentage, minority fortunate enough to not need to have a work place with showers, lockers and strange facilities and obviously no need for any work tools or associated job paraphernalia, then this project is hugely questionable.A works manager I spoke with told me that as a consequence of these works and all the developments planned in the vicinity that moving everything will not improve the infrastructure for the future but impede it to the point that the road will probable have to have works carried out constantly. He said it is a disaster waiting to happen but the clients do not give a hoot and raising it simply stuffs up the chances of any further contracts.Myopic and if this is the case, plain b@$$*y minded.I do hope more than just someone in authority has asked these questions and not kept quite simply for political or personal reasons.

Raymond Havelock ● 1976d

I was grateful to read about the road closure on here.  Knowing it was I was able to vary my route and avoid the bridge on my return journey this morning.

Sarah Felstead ● 1977d

It was actually opened before it was reclosed. The left turn has been closed from time to time during the development.Somebody wrote to me this morning saying there is no sign to tell drivers of this on Kew Bridge, just a 'road closed' sign with no mention of which road.I have raised this with TfL, though I think (can't find confirmation) that the turn restriction is just for the weekend.

Guy Lambert ● 1977d

I now see that the turn left option has been blocked and that there are workers doing stuff. All traffic has now forced up towards Chiswick roundabout. The lane closure now makes sense but why close it for at least a week while the lane was still viable, causing unnecessary backlog and pollution? Gah.

Mike Paterson ● 1978d

Should of course be 30 days later( DUH!)  ut the point still stands.

Keith Iddon ● 1978d

It's vague because there is no indication whether the it's by June, or by the end of June 31 days later etc.

Keith Iddon ● 1978d

Trying and failing to uppload a picture of some of the 10 guys I saw working at 2.10 today.It's not the Forth bridge but it's not that simple either because there will be numerous services to relocate (gas, electricity, water, drains, BT, Virgin for starters). I believe they are also trying to sort out the famous Kew Bridge lake outside Costa Coffee which means the road floods when it rains and the tide is in (and it's been like that for decades at least, perhaps centuries!)Not sure why you think that's vague.

Guy Lambert ● 1978d

Guy Lambert ● 1978d

I love the vagueness of those dates, gives you confidence in the planning and execution of these works, doesn't it? You'd think they were building the Forth Bridge.

Keith Iddon ● 1978d

I think that lane closure (whatever the reason for it was) has ended.I have these dates from the project manager yesterday:Completion dates•Kew Bridge junction:                June 2020•Works west of Kew Bridge junction:  July / Aug 2020•Wellesley Road to Thames Row:        July / Aug 2020

Guy Lambert ● 1978d

I wonder...does the Kew bridge camera have an open live feed on it?

Sarah Felstead ● 1978d

There were 8 of them that I could see working away when I passed at about 2.30

Guy Lambert ● 1979d

They are on a permanent break!!!

Elizabeth Price ● 1979d

but not one that ends at 9.30am.

Keith Iddon ● 1979d

Oh, that's what it is,Guy..and I came down with the last shower of rain.Why are you making excuses for them and why do you suppose they were on a break? There was no evidence whatsoever of anyone being present.You must think people are as gullible as you seem to be.

Keith Iddon ● 1979d

May as well go back to using my car and avoid roadworks altogether. Defeats the whole object of this disgraceful mess.

Elizabeth Price ● 1979d

Have many times been delayed on 267 and 237 because of these works. Frequent notices I  Hammersmith bus station saying severe delays to 267. Someone has to be accountable for this shambolic situation .Shouldn't cyclists have to have a road tax similar to drivers to help pay for these cycle ways?

Elizabeth Price ● 1979d

Maybe workmen delayed by traffic jams?

Jennifer Selig ● 1979d

Every time I go by there are about 10 people on site. I suppose they have breaks though 9.30 seems early if they start at 8

Guy Lambert ● 1979d

9.30 am not a single person on site.

Keith Iddon ● 1979d

Spoke to a guy who was rearranging plastic barriers yesterday. I asked when it was going to finish. He  laughed and said it was a mess. No one obviously working AGAIN. Tried to email a complaint t o TFL. NO EMAIL CONTACT US ON WEBSITE.

Elizabeth Price ● 1979d

Sounds good to me!

Sarah Felstead ● 1980d

Late to this. I walk a lot of late for health reasons (lost 10KG, woo-hoo). On two separate occasions recently between Kew Gardens and the Steam Museum I have managed to stay ahead of the 65 bus, me on foot! One of the  main reasons for the jam, IMO, is that on the Brentford side of the bridge, near the chaos works, they have blocked the left lane lane for about 15 yards, that's all. No rhyme nor reason. Totally needlessly, pointlessly. This prevents all Brentford bound traffic to get through easily to hang a left. It also makes crossing to Brentford from Strand on the Green even more dangerous than it already was. Baffling and idiotic.Unblock that lane!

Mike Paterson ● 1980d

I think that's the irony Guy,267 has been pretty poor for reliability of service for a very long time.Ken Livingstones Bus Plus massively improved the 65 which has always been a busy route and suffered delays from congestion and almost 40 years of perpetual road closures and works the length of the route.His policy transformed many local  routes includingthe 267 and 237 along with most local routes.All this led to a huge jump in passenger numbers and was before the Congestion Charge came in.One better policy was to put things in place before implementing more radical approaches. That now seems to have gone out of the window in a range of fields.The 267 still was not up to scratch but in the past 24 months has been hugely improved. Only for it to all be gradually undone within a year.I don't recall any survey or consultation with bus passengers asking them if having capacity reduced and journey times increased is acceptable ?My point is that the delays as TfL claim are far longer in actuality. They take averages so a late evening or very early turn will bring the average down.The cycle way will permanently add to journey times when completed as the capacity for commercial traffic on the A406 will not reduce in volume but will be reduced in roadspace.Like it or not, commercial traffic is the backbone of our economy and why people live here and are still coming to live here. But increasing pollution, and delaying further an already slow moving part of town which impacts on daily activities and work affects too many and Ken Livingstone had it right, Keeping us moving a fast as possible and as frequently as possible  en masse is the best policy.But it's all slipping back to pre Bus Plus and rather sneakily by TfL with rather dubious consultations and surveys which they have on more than one occasion being exposed as 'engineered'.It's taken several FoI requests to reveal these in other districts and maybe it's time to do a few more relating to services locally.

Raymond Havelock ● 1981d

I know I sat in traffic jams for what seemed like weeks whilst the bridge was renovated and stone beautifully replaced.  Going across the bridge yesterday and the paving slabs, all carefully ground to shape, have tarmac spots all along the Chiswick side.  Looks like the slabs have been dug up and instead of being relaid, to fit in with the status of the bridge, the quick option of tarmac has replaced them.  Looks a complete mess.

Sarah Felstead ● 1981d

So your statement that it extended journey times by 22 minutes was incorrect even on the original assumptions. I think you're referring to the TOTAL journey time from Goldhawk Road to Ealing Road in the am peak which was shown as 18-20 minutes in 2015 going to 20-25 minutes in 2021 (with or without CW9 which makes no difference to this whatsoever)The Eastbound morning peak is probably more likely to be at issue and that showed 20-25 mins going to 25-30, ie a 5 minute increase. But with the revised scheme it reverts to 20-25 minutes so again, no impact whatsoever from CW9I am no expert on buses. I know the 27 was foreshortened along Chiswick High Road, largely because it was running mainly empty and the 237, 267, H91 etc serve the same route but I bow to your knowledge about 237/267 frequency etc.I can only say that I have had no complaints about the 237/267 (or any other buses for that matter) recently, though I had plenty a couple of years ago.

Guy Lambert ● 1982d

It's already happened.The PVR ( buses required fro duty has been reduced on the 267 when the contract changed. But the service capacity has been reduced with short workings to Brentford Half Acre increased reducing the service full route.The 27 has been cut back to Hammersmith only and the 237 and 267 no soak up the capacity. However the frequency is now reduced due to the roadworks and the buses are at capacity by Gunnersbury station heading west.The E3 has also been reduced also reducing capacity availability along Chiswick High Road.All this has already happened, but the delays caused by the road works and the Hammersmith Bride fallout which will now be ongoing for at least 5 years, and the fact that this was based on Crossrail opening in 2018 which has not happened has been largely ignored by TfL .Just take a look at Brentford Half Acre Bus stands and see just how many 267s and ^5s are now terminating there.The 22 mins was increased from 18 mins in the CW9 projections 2 years ago.That related to Westbound from Turnham Green Church to Brentford High St / Half Acre.Eastbound peak morning peak journeys similar increase and weekend increases.In any case just using the buses regularly says it all. A minimal delay journey is up by about 6 mins but much longer delays are way up and very long.

Raymond Havelock ● 1982d

Simply untrue. The modelling for CW9 (see http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/documents/s154596/CEX%20185%20Cycleway%209%2003-09-19%20CabinetFINAL.pdf) as interpreted for the cabinet report says"3.34. As a result of design changes forming part of the Spring 2019 consultation, theseimpacts have been largely mitigated, and indeed most journey times are expectedto improve as a result of the proposals.3.35. On each section of the route within London Borough of Hounslow, smallvariations of 0 – 2 minutes – some increases some decreases - are anticipated inboth directions in the morning peak periods.3.36. There are more significant changes in two sections in the evening peak period,with reductions of 2 – 4 minutes in both directions between Chiswick Roundabout– Goldhawk Road and 5 – 6 minutes between Kew Bridge to ChiswickRoundabout anticipated"I don't know where Raymond gets 22 minute delays from - I cannot see such delays in any studies - nor do I know what he means by reduced buses. I have heard of no reductions affecting Brentford.

Guy Lambert ● 1982d

If the bus services are being 'reduced', it means that there will still be some buses and therefore they can negotiate the road so I don't really understand that.

Anne England ● 1982d

".... bus services will be reduced. Do you know the details of the reductions?" Simples - 'cause their ain't no room on the narrowed roads for buses - walk or cycle you lazy idiots!  That goes for the halt and lame too.

Jennifer Selig ● 1982d

Raymond, thanks for the post. This is the first I have heard of the bus services will be reduced. Do you know the details of the reductions?

Keith Iddon ● 1983d

Having had yet another abysmal response ( or rather a lecture ) from TfL about the 26 bus journeys since mid jan that have taken 45min plus from Gunnersbury to Brentford half Acre and vice versa,.I do hope our local councillors from Brentford, Chiswick and Hounslow and Isleworth are challenging TfL on why they see delays of this length and extended journey times thereafter by 22mins fully justifiable for a cycleway.I do not need to be advised about the Mayors policy to cycle or walk rather than use a vehicle or public transport. I am a lifelong cyclist. But it is simply impractical for work and I like , all of us get older sooner or later and cycling is going to eventually be a no no. Walking with a load of workstuff or with other charges is simply not going to meet any appointments.  The recent weather has underlines just how impractical cycling is for going to work or to meetings.But to significantly reduce the bus services to suit a policy is quite frankly, reprehensible and irresponsible and I cannot believe LBH gave this the thumbs up as part of the conditions of this cycleway.

Raymond Havelock ● 1983d

Thanks , Guy, depressing tho' that news is? The date of April is plastered all over the metal road signs these people have put out. Did you ask hime what the delay is, and why quite often there ids no-one working on the site? Seems a bit off hand to say it's now June. Frankly,if I was involved in planning or working on this I would be red faced with embarrassment at the length of time it is taking. No one seems to care or be accountable any more. Why am I not surprised?

Keith Iddon ● 1984d

Thanks Guy, it does seem like the 'pee' is being taken by making a relatively simply piece of reconfiguration into a major programme.

N V Brooks ● 1984d

Completion of the junction works is due in June, according to the project manager (indirectly). I was trying to find out if the schedule had slipped because somebody suggested it was due to finish in April.The original letter to residents (dated 4th December 2019) said 'this section' will be finished late autumn 2020 but it doesn't specify what the section is.The recent letter 3 March covers the section between Kew Bridge and Thames Row, where the eastbound cycle lane crosses to the south side of KBR (more on the TW8 homepage).I'll enquire what they mean by 'this section'

Guy Lambert ● 1985d

It's a pity that, out of these millions of pounds being spent to make cyclists lives easier, some funds could not be found to reinstate school crossing patrols (aka lollypop men/women) to keep our children safe on the way to school. Ironically, at the zebra crossing we use, it was cyclists that needed to be stopped so children could cross safely - apparently, the rules don't apply to them. Why is priority being given to cyclists who generally ignore all road rules and illegally cycle when and where they want, over our pedestrian children?

Graham Thorpe ● 1985d

Eight days on and sadly no update from Guy.

N V Brooks ● 1985d

Just seen that the roadworks are coming to Jet garage area until June. More delays, emissions and travel chaos for Brentford residents. Totally sick of the whole episode. Kew Bridge works still going at snails pace. The nightmare continues.....

Elizabeth Price ● 1986d

Absolutely right Raymond and is it any wonder that the ineffectual Khan and his cohort are presiding over a record TfL deficit in excess of a billion pounds?

N V Brooks ● 1992d

What a sad picture you paint. However as I read it I agreed with every word. As you say examples to be seen everywhere. Departing from this I thought of reports I have read concerning newly built houses. They name the builders (which I will not mention) and the volume of faults in one house is often considerable.

Nicholas Beard ● 1992d

It's the entire procurement and tendering method used by TfL and govt funded authorities.Smaller and local companies, usually every bit or more capable than the contractors that these contracts don't get a look in. They never get invited to tender and if they do a whole raft of criteria is expected that effectively shuts them out.Most specialists are deemed "Too small" so only huge companies or conglomerates get the contracts.All around us we see their end results, poor standards of materials and finish and very often improperly finished works which a few years later are already in decay.Yet anything TfL specify costs way in excess of it's true cost and yet falls way short of the quality or innovation used in neighbouring countries.Ironically much of the difficult work is farmed out by these conglomerates too smaller companies but at rates which result in these companies having to do the work using minimal labour and materials. Whilst the conglomerates take the cream.So when it all goes to pot, you can guess where the buck gets passed to and who will pick up another lucrative contract.Of course the real blame is TfL and local authorities who fail abysmally to take a hard line on delays, slack working, fiddles and poor quality works.This though is nothing new and has gone on for generations in this countries utility and construction trade.Every now and then the chickens come home to roost i.e. Carillon, but nothing fundamental changes in the way smaller and local businesses get shut out, even those long established and with excellent reputations.But given the current attitude of TfL induced by the Mayor and some of his sidekicks, causing delays to all traffic and public transport is the "blunt tool' justifiable to force people to walk or cycle.

Raymond Havelock ● 1992d

Thursday morning a whole raft of high viz and machines.TFL should be ashamed of the'progress' on this project. Sick of the inconvenience and pollution emissions this is causing. Shame on TFL for allowing contracts to be so sloppy and lacking in management.

Elizabeth Price ● 1993d

They always seem to be there when I go past on weekday mornings at 07.45 but not always on late afternoons. I guess their hours are more in alignment with other manual/outdoor workers rather than office employees.

Sue Rowe ● 1993d

Where are these supposedly workmen during the week days in regular hours?  Deliberately going slow so they have to work overtime rates - perish the thought!

Jennifer Selig ● 1993d

Ah, weekend overtime :-)
An update would be appreciated.

N V Brooks ● 1994d

Thanks that would be useful, Guy.

Keith Iddon ● 1994d

Yet there were about 10 people working at 4.30 pm on Saturday. I'll see if I can get a progress update.

Guy Lambert ● 1994d

Drove from Boston Manor to Richmond today and sailed through the 'roadworks' with no queue!
Saw ONE chap in a high-vis on his phone, that was it, at this rate an April completion date seems very optimistic.

N V Brooks ● 1994d

Coming home last night took me 43 minutes to go from Turnham Green Church to just past the road works at Kew Bridge. Plus the fact I was on a bus God knows how long it would take in a car. I wonder why they are not working 24/7?

David Squire ● 1994d

Different notices say different things. At the rate they are working it will never be finished. No one working again yesterday.

Elizabeth Price ● 2000d

April? I thought the works were due to into the autumn?

Mark Gormley ● 2005d

The emissions are a very good point. Many people forget even with electric cars we will still have the jams.

Nicholas Beard ● 2006d

There is rarely anyone on this site from lunchtime. The Chinese can build a hospital in6 days we should get them to sort this shambles out. It is a disgrace and is causing more emissions in traffic jams at the moment t than it will ever say e.

Elizabeth Price ● 2006d

I hope that's April this year.

Keith Iddon ● 2008d

It says April on the notices on the North Circular. So that probably means October.

Susan Kelly ● 2008d

Let the motorist wait. After all we only pay tax and petrol taxes. Terrible!

Nicholas Beard ● 2009d