Forum Topic

Windmill Road/A4 junction closure

Again.  For 5 months. Why?? Thought all this was finished last year and they would be moving to another section of the motorway.

Alison Robins ● 38d12 Comments

Entirely a matter for the Department for Transport (though the A4 and its junctions is primarily TfL).They do their work through National Highways https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Highways  who subcontract to Connect Plus (M25) Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Connect Plus Holdings (M25) Ltd. They are a subsidary of two entities: BBDE Orbital Holdings Llp and Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd. BBde is owned by 3 entities: Bbpf Llp; Equitix Ma 6 Capital Eurobond Limited; and Dalmore (Loop) Investments Lp.Bbpf Llp is controlled by two entities Bbpfs Lp and Initial Founder Partner Gp1 Limited .BBpfs Lp is controlled by 3 entities Initial Gp1 Limited; Balfour Beatty Pension Trust Limited;Initial Founder Partner Gp1 Limited. Oh they are back.Getting more simple, Initial Gp1 Ltd is controlled solely by Balfour Beatty Investment Holdings Limited which is owned by Balfour Beatty plc.Couldn't be simpler (I got bored or could have gone on).If you are unclear why so many companies involved, you might want to enquire of KPMG Llp. the learned auditors.I note that the first service KPMG lists is Business Tax. Probably a coincidence.HAving said that, the actual work is done by subcontractors to Connect Plus, whose names I don't have at my fingertips.

Guy Lambert ● 15d

A tunnel as long as it is ( futureproofed and adequate ) would be a perfect solution. Whilst the A4 itself would remain above  The opportunities to complexly revive the Golden Mile for proper commercial business use would be huge, the opportunity to have a Tram line all the way to Heathrow or Staines and into Hammersmith using a parallel Tunnel could hugely relieve the district and revive its industrial and thus local quality job range.  It could Create a reasonable amount of reclaimable space. Increase and return Boston Manor Park to a better open space for an already poorly facilitated increasing population.It won't happen but the M4 is approaching Time expiry and the chaos and potentially economically disastrous potential for not just Brentford but the whole Southern Ealing , Brentford, and Chiswick could be monumental.A Tunnel maybe the cheaper option given the need to keep the M4 and A4 operational throughout.  The tunnelling technology has move leaps and bounds in the last 2 decades,  Tunnels in the Faroe Islands where the population and economy is a fraction of that of West London alone can be managed, so a realitivelty short 5 to 7 mile 6 lane ( inc hard shoulder and exits)tunnel should be more than feasible.But of course this is Modern  Britain.  Even if it happens it will be over budget and half baked and riddled with unravelling faults over the following 40 years.

Raymond Havelock ● 15d

Driving on the A4 daily to work (and yes, I do cycle when I can), I see a disaster waiting to happen.
The concrete structure is clearly unsafe, and I’m constantly worried a large chunk could collapse, causing a serious accident. As is too often the case in this country, it seems a catastrophe will need to happen before any action is taken.I agree with Guy, the only real solution is the long discussed tunnel. This is a major route into London, and the flyover is no longer fit for purpose. It’s beyond patching up, the structure is finished. Brentford residents should be very concerned. The population is growing rapidly, flats are springing up everywhere, and the huge Glaxo site redevelopment is on the horizon. Even with the push for cycling and public transport, many people still rely on their cars. The traffic situation will only get worse if we keep relying on short-term fixes.Yes, the costs will be high, but considering the billions wasted by this and previous governments on ill-conceived projects, this is essential infrastructure investment.And Guy, who exactly are the decision makers here?

Kass Stewart ● 15d

I was on site a decade ago with the steel section of the M4 in Boston Manor Park. It is suffering from Corrosion and metal fatigue but is much more accessible.It is also by nature of its structure much more noisy than the concrete section. Even without the addition of the A4 below.For those with long memories, when the flyover was under construction in the 1960s. all the roads crossing remained open, day and night. No bus routes were delayed or diverted and traffic was even then heavy. there were far more HGVs and trucks back then being very industrial and at all hours with the market traffic at night and early hours.  Yet it was all well managed.The mess at South Ealing road now permeates right up to Gillette Corner even on Sunday mornings. TfL have messed with traffic lights at GSK and BMR to try and regulate the BMR ro South Ealing  Rd section, but it clearly does not work. It is far, far worse since they meddles with it and it needs sorting.  The delays and regular diversions and curtailments by bus are ridiculous and TfL have the audacity to blame and penalise the bus operator.  It can not be anything other than deliberate.

Raymond Havelock ● 33d

The light phasing on the Ealing Road roundabout doesn't help any of this.  Last time Windmill Road was shut it could take the best part of an hour to get from McDonalds to the roundabout.A couple of weeks ago I noticed that the northbound lights were green only long enough to let about 3 cars through.

Alison Robins ● 36d

Everyone knows more than Cllr Lambert, who views everything through his rose-tinted ‘socialist’ spectacles. Luckily we now have a government committed to improving infrastructure in London. Oh, hang on…One engineer will have a different opinion to another, of course. Unlike Labour types they are allowed to have personal views that are publicly expressed. You ought to try a bit more in the way of understanding that you aren’t right about everything, Guy. It’s politics types like you who have got this country into such a mess now. Congratulations.

Simon Hayes ● 36d

Yes,it will be fun and games if the A4 is closed,especially with a third of the road space on the only alternative road taken up by cycle lanes,which are not exactly heaving with cyclists especially when it's too hot,too wet,too dark or too cold.

Keith Iddon ● 37d

Alison I remember that last time and told them I was angry about it but they took no notice.This time they insist it is essential to close to protect the scaffolding. We'll see.Of course putting it in a tunnel would be expensive, but they have already considered doing that to increase the capacity.The fact that the stanchions are not successfully repaired despite them having been attending to them for at least 15 years suggests to me that the whole structure needs to be replaced (and the engineer who was on the call clearly agrees. He knows a lot more than me and probably nearly as much as Simon.If they decide it has become unsafe (cf Hammersmith Bridge, Paragon building next to University of West London) they will have to close it, with the chaos that would entail.A sensible country would have a plan more convincing than patching it up and crossing fingers.

Guy Lambert ● 37d

Probably, but then this is a long-term closure so they can’t just bring stuff in overnight. At least this year they have given everyone some notice, and a timeframe. Last time they just closed the road without saying anything.

Simon Hayes ● 37d

Last year they closed it simply to construct a sort of contractors' village in the junction - huts, equipment, vehicles etc.  Is that what is going to happen again this year?  Is that in fact the reason for the closure?

Alison Robins ● 37d

At least they monitor the deterioration of the concrete and the rebar, and then do something about it every other year. The consequences of ignoring it don’t beee as r thinking about.No way will they build a tunnel. The costs alone would be prohibitive. A more feasible option would be to replace the concrete supports with steel ones such as those already in place near the university buildings.I’m surprised that Cllr Lambert isn’t keen on simply closing the whole thing so that all those nasty cars stop travelling through his beloved Brentford!

Simon Hayes ● 37d

I had an online meeting with them this week having complained about all this.They said they would be back every other year to try and prevent it all falling down (they didn't put it quite like that).I said it was clear the whole thing was not fit for its purpose. They've been messing about with supports for I reckon at least 15 years without fixing anything properly. Nobody disagreed.We will have this at least every 2 years until somebody bites the bullet and replace thw whole thing by (in my opinion) a replacement in a tunnel, as the Department once proposed for Junction 3 to  J2.Of course that would be another kind of nightmare but better than shoring up what's there until it is unsafe to continue.

Guy Lambert ● 38d