Forum Topic

A4/Windmill Rd junction

Anybody know why it's blocked off? I saw the notices about works on the elevated section, but didn't clock that you can't cross the main road by car any more

Mark Gormley ● 825d17 Comments

...apart from the wretched word changer. I left out Highways agency or what ever they are called this month (obscenities excepted) But the constant incompetence of communication between TfL and Highways and local councils highways seems to prevail far too often and with far too vague a description and absolutely no consideration to peoples disruption or the costs to work, commerce, school or any aspect of normal day to day life for residents.So bad that even the local councillors are kept in the dark. Embarrassing for them but time to get tough surely?It's been done before when the pillars needed urgent remedial work. and issues have been sorted within days and sometimes within hours, but of late it's almost as if the disruption is gerrymandering.The reality is that the flyover needs to be replaced and without it the whole economy of not just Brentford but  West and Central London will be placed in acute arrest.  This could take far longer than the building of it in the 1960s especially with so many new developments so much closer to the roads

Raymond Havelock ● 822d

Spot on!!!

Elizabeth Price ● 822d

I received a letter dated 13th January from Connect Plus Services 'working on behalf of National Highways'.  Letter dated 13th January outlined the road diversions we are experiencing.  Apart from the current problems at Windmill Road etc, they write that a similar pattern will take place on the A4 carriageways between Ealing Road and Clayponds Avenue from 6th February.  A4 eastbound diversion will be via B455 Ealing Road southbound and A315 High Street eastbound towards Chiswick roundabout.Westbound diversion via Chiswick roundabout, A315 High Street westbound and B455 Ealing Road northbound.It goes on that late January to early May 2023 structural repairs will take place during the week, mainly betweeen 7.30am and 5.30pm.  30mph speed restriction will be in place for safety.'We'll also need to suspend some pedestrian crossing points for public safety. Signed diversions will be in place to the next available pedestrian crossing where applicable.'If anyone has any questions the writer (Ben Evans, Communications Assistant) refers them to the National Highways Customer Contact Centre on 0300 123 5000, available 24 hours a day, or via email at info@nationalhighways.co.uk.

Joan Adamson ● 822d

It is a safe assumption that, if you are not being kept informed, the general public are far less likely to be made aware of things like this.To me there seems to be a massive potential gain in reducing congestion and pollution by better information flow on planned works. The current approach seems very haphazard and that was very evident during the recent A4 works in a number of lengthy threads from people confused by what was actually happening despite the best efforts of residents and reporters to find out.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 822d

The disruption is massive. A hour and a half to get from Brentford to Ealing on Wednesday evening. Ended up walking for over an hour, first to seek an alternative bus. Second time I've missed an appointment in 3 days.  Ealing Road solid going north, South Ealing road backed up all the way to ealing Broadway heading south.HGVs trying to turn left into Windmill Road is a fatality or serious damage waiting to happen. Even the bus struggles.The BRS area side streets also blocked up. Windmill Road silent.Eventually took an E8 with the intention of tubing it to Sth Ealing or Ealing Broadway but Boston Manor road also blocked all the way to Hanwell ( as there are also roadworks limiting right turns.) After 10 mins stuck in Boston Manor road driver let me off and walked Miles out of my way and not really dressed for being outdoors for too long.This is all made worse by large vehicles unable to negotiate small roads and cars that have gotten to wide and large being driven by people who would think a Mk1 Mini is the size of a bus. Unable to manor and judge widths. But we are stuck with that.Coming home at 10pm  E2 non existent and lord knows where it was diverted to but A4 log jammed and Sth Ealing road still taking an age.It's really not good enough and TfL need a right kicking for this endless incompetence of management and crap information.

Raymond Havelock ● 822d

Actually when I look at this on TW8, I did see it but wrongly put it in my basket full of complicated announcements from highway authorities which have little effect on normal life. I expect for something like this I expect as the ward councillor to have proper notification rather than a vague information they're having a go at fixing the M4 support things, something they have been doing for I reckon for about 25 years.Much of that is routine, but the closing of the Windmill junction is a different matter entirely. TfL told me yesterday that they know all about it but they don't mention any disruption to the E2!

Guy Lambert ● 822d

The information was in last Friday's Brentford newsletter above Cllr Lambert's own contribution. Maybe he scanned down too quickly to notice in his enthusiasm to read his article. :)

Jeremy Parkinson ● 823d

Er, helpful in that it shifts the blame. Puzzling that nobody thought to inform the local authority about the impact on its roads and, presumably, services such as waste and recycling collection.Or perhaps they did it nobody opened the email.

Simon Hayes ● 823d

This article is helpful because it seems clear it's a National Highways initiative. I had heard nothing about it until I had reason to cross the A4 last night.I have written to LBH traffic and to Tfl to ask them how much they know about this, and whether I have missed some information that has been circulated.I will update when I know something!

Guy Lambert ● 824d

It’s a mystery. The crossing suspensions are encouraging people to cross the road wherever they can, which is obviously dangerous. But there are no barriers on the pavements to stop people, so they are going to risk it. Last night there were deliveroo riders cutting across to the west of the blockades.

Simon Hayes ● 824d

I went along to have a look this morning and thought the pedestrian crossings were ridiculous. A lady with a buggy was crossing when I was there and she was having to teeter past the nose of the barriers that were trying to prevent her crossing. I think the pedestrian lights were still visible.The MyLondon news story includes "some pedestrian crossing points may need to be suspended for public safety. Signed diversions will be in place to the next available pedestrian crossing where applicable."  No actual work seemed to be in progress when I was there. I would hope that the plan is not to suspend the crossing points for long periods for no real reason.

Tim Henderson ● 824d

Stuck down there yesterday, missed an appointment. Utterly Amateur.

Raymond Havelock ● 824d

There is zero information at the junction itself. There was nothing posted locally beforehand. I walked across there at 8.45 last night and there’s was no indication about the road being completely blocked, including for pedestrians, who now have to head down to the South Ealing Road junction to cross. There’s also no information about bus diversions. Not a thing.

Simon Hayes ● 825d

Just found this giving more details: https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/m4-chiswick-flyover-hounslow-drivers-26007768

Tanya Baker ● 825d

It’s a deliberate trap. The fiddling with the kerbs a few years ago created the bottleneck that the cameras now seek to alleviate. Simply returning the kerb formation on the southbound carriageway to its previous layout would solve the problem. But then TfL would lose a revenue stream and the likes of Lambert wouldn’t be able to point at all the congestion.They won’t reopen Swyncombe because the residents don’t want it. And creating congestion feeds the anti- car brigade’s irrational arguments. Put in enough blockages and you increase congestion. Then you can say there are too many cars. They don’t even bother doing proper data collection and analysis. Just make it up and see if anyone notices.

Simon Hayes ● 825d

If this is to be for some weeks then Swyncombe Ave needs to be reopened with immediate effect.  The only alternative is to reroute via Half Acre/Boston Manor road.  South ealing Road is already stuffed up to South ealing Stn. About time clear notices are placed about the yellow box junctions there. Do they apply to the A4 crossing traffic or Windmill road. Either way its impossible to use the junction safely or correctly if using windmill road as most are blind to any obstructions of clear exit until entering it.I wonder if the plethora of cameras note that it does not work correctly?

Raymond Havelock ● 825d

Maybe Lambert can tell you.It would be useful to open up Swyncombe during the works to alleviate the pressure on roads. They did it in Chiswick for A4 works there recently.

Simon Hayes ● 825d