Forum Topic

What is happening Brentford High Street this morning?

Have just tried to go through and it is all cordoned off by police and traffic is of course horrendous! I have 3 hungry cats as I couldn't get to the pet store!!!!

Linda F Wright ● 6998d33 Comments

..on London Road.....is exactly where A315 is marked on the MAP ..at the Beech Avenue junction:ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooAnd the hole in the road looks like this!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Jim Lawes ● 6996d

TimThat was the best way to travel today through Brentford..by bike..especially during the rush hour.The Great West Road was chockers..even the traffic travelling towards London couldn't proceed because of the blockage in that (Brentord) slip road..in front of the clinic place.Traffic bearing left into that one-way U turn slip road..couldn't exit into the Great West Road...so all was no go.  Seeing 267 buses going to Hampton Court via the GWR was a novelty too!

Jim Lawes ● 6996d

Cycling from the West End back to Isleworth tonight, I was crossing the Brentford Bridge at about 10.15 and heard the sirens of a police car behind me. Like me , it must have passed three prominent "Road Ahead Closed" signs. So I presumed there was trouble in the estate.The car screamed past me and then reached the fences of the works , did a three point turn and headed back towards me - sirens still blaring.I was surprised that word had not spread......I must say I liked the quiet car-free atmosphere (before the siren) in Brentford as I passed through. A few pavement cafe tables or even a street party tomorrow might have been nice - but then you can't predict these things.My guess is the water main is cast iron - potentially brittle if it gets a sudden stress ?

Tim Henderson ● 6996d

Possibly traffic vibration or soil movement due to dry weather Richard, might be the cause. Thats why plastic is so much better, no corrosion, and is flexible enough to take up movement like that.

Colin Vaughan ● 6996d

Brilliant pictures there Jim, certainly when you see the 'whole bit' as it where, at least you know the reasons why, with two 800mm mains alongside one another why the whole thing is that much more difficult. This is where a Forum like this provides a useful information service.. When you see this patching exercise though my reaction is, if only they could re-new the whole thing. In my area of London Three Valleys Water have done just that. Result cleaner water and slightly increased pressure due to tha slightly smaller pipe, being drawn into the old one. A similar technique as is used in the renewal of gas mains.

Colin Vaughan ● 6996d

"You can see the small hole and crack in his 800mm pipe. Why would it fracture?  Inferior steel?"I note that there are some pipes or cable ducts crossing the road above the water main.  The road would probably have been dug up with pneumatic drills to install those crossing pipes.  I wonder if a drill struck the water main and resulted in a weakness in the steel which years later caused the burst.Thanks for the excellent photos, Jim.

Richard Jennings ● 6996d

Wonder if this is supposed to be a pre cursor to the Waterside festival...!hope it doesn't cause too many difficulties for people coming to it and that numbers of punters are high.

Keith Iddon ● 6996d

Here's an email I received today from the Council's top traffic man...The 33 inch water main is close to the centre of the road and is immediately adjacent to a second 33 inch water main. The proximity of the 2nd main is precluding the use of certain mechanical equipment and this is delaying the repair operations. The location of the main and the extensive damage to the fabric of the road also, unfortunately, precludes the possibility of at least reopening half of the road width to enable shuttle working to operate.We are advised by Thames Water that the current expectation is that the repair to the pipes will be complete by Sunday/Monday and the consequent backfilling to the excavation and repair to the carriageway should be complete by the afternoon of Thursday 1st June, allowing the road to be reopened to traffic. Thames Water contractors will be working extended hours but the proximity of residential properties prevents 24hr working. I am afraid that the only crumb of good news is that with half term week next week, general traffic flows in the area will be lower. There is advance signing around the area to advise drivers of the closure and diversions, including use of the overhead dot matrix signs on the A406 North Circular Road and the A4 Great West Road and the closure is being included in traffic broadcasts on radio and television. There is also information on the Council's website and on Transport for London's travel news website. Unfortunately, as you will know, there is a major canal side festival this weekend at Brentford Lock and there are major rugby matches on Saturday and Sunday at Twickenham Stadium. Both British Waterways and the Rugby Football Union have been formally advised of the closure and its impact on traffic movement in the area, both in terms of their anticipated visitors/spectators but also to ensure that participants, exhibitors and others involved in the events are aware of the potential for delays in reaching the canal / stadium.As you will also be aware, the closure of St Johns Road, Isleworth for bridge reconstruction was due to commence next week. This has had to be delayed because of the London Road closure and we are now looking at closing St Johns Road on Monday 5th June.

Matt Harmer ● 6996d

Hi Colin...yes 800mm is a big plumbing pipe!I went down to the scene tonight to get some clarification on the matter.oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooSo the road is closed...approaching Brentford from the west.The Duke of Northumberland's Syon House and Park property is on the right. His postal address is TW8 too I believe!ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooNo point in being a Mr Angry..saying that you're in a hurry and you want to get through..there's a big hole in the road!!oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe pipeburst apparently caused a two foot fountain of water..not too high..but it flooded roads,pavements..and perhaps driveways in the roadways around. Sandbags are still in evidence in Beech Road.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooYou can see the small hole and crack in his 800mm pipe. Why would it fracture?  Inferior steel?000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooThe replacement pipe..and the sealing rings..are already on site..and these should be fitted Saturday.  Seal testing follows. then fill in hole.  The agreement with Tfl is that they only work till 10pm.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooIn the meantime the London Road at the Beech Avenue junction is closed...for several more days yet.

Jim Lawes ● 6996d

Good old Jim, sanity and commonsence breaks out at last!800mm! thats quite a size! Hope the improved pressure won't cause a falure elsewhere.

Colin Vaughan ● 6996d

Work to repair the broken 800mm underground water pipe at the junction with Beech Road extends across the whole road....and through passage is not possible..except for cyclists perhaps.A big hole has been dug in the centre of the road, the leaking  section of pipe cut out and brought to the surface,  and the new pipe with its collar and joining fittings are now on site.It is expected..speaking to an Engineer on site this evening, that the pipe will be replaced by tomorrow Saturday..when water will again flow..but gradually.. and examinations will need to take place to be sure that the new seals are 100% ok.Then the hole will need to be filled in ..and the road surface repaired.  There was talk that all will be well by Tuesday evening.  But that needs confirming...by someone other than your amateur reporter.  In the meantime there are major diversions:1) Traffic approaching Brentford from Kew Bridge..on arriving at Half Acre...is directed to turn right.  You could perhaps drive around the traffic cones to go ahead..but that is not advised. What you could do is go up Boston Manor Road ...and take the left turn after just 20 metres and go down that little road behind Goddards. It is then possible to park on meters near the Magistrates Court.Or you could take the next road up and park in the Butts..more metres! Better still is to drive down that narrow road beside the Court..which brings you to a "quieter High Street"..turn right..and you can get to Holiday Inn, Island Estate, The Ham, Brentford Dock, Commerce Road, Brentford Bridge, Brent Lea, and the Pet Supermarket.2) If you are travelling down the Boston Manor Road..from the Great West Road...once you get to Half Acre..you will be directed left towards Kew Bridge...but it is possible  to avoid the cones and turn right towards..  Once again it would be better to turn off right 20 metres from the junction and go behind Goddards...or go to the Butts.3) From Isleworth..on arriving at Busch Corner you will be directed northwards to Gillette Corner.  A good idea is to dig out your A-Z ..turn off Spur Road..into lower Syon Lane and find yourway through Almond Grove..to find perhaps a parking spot on that estate.The rush hour traffic in the region has been stressful for many people today...Saturday should be easier...but helpful parking tips for visitors would have been a friendly gesture  from Mr Angry and friends.

Jim Lawes ● 6996d

Haven't been to the High Street but there is still alot of heavy traffic all the way round the area.

Linda F Wright ● 6998d

The Transport for London site says it is still shut - I was about to head home but staying in the pub is an option if I am going to hit heavy traffic. Are we sure it is open.

Andy Jones ● 6998d

Thanks Alan.

Linda F Wright ● 6998d

It is clear

Alan Sheerins ● 6998d

I have to go to Brentford this evening.

Linda F Wright ● 6998d

Eminently sensible suggestions unfortunately I think that funding for the project came in part from planning gain for the massive White City development so it was a precondition that it went that far over-riding all logic.Incidentally the tram would not have carried an 'infinitely' higher number of people than the current bus service. I think it was something like 30% more but with far fewer seats available. This of course is comparing buses now with a tram in 2011+ and buses would hopefully have higher capacity by then. I would imagine that when road pricing is introduced the Uxbridge Road is high on the list and this would mean that buses more much more quickly.

Justin Harris ● 6998d

We're talking improvements here, not the status quo and providing more efficient ways of moving people around than on congested roads.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Err, bus and tube spring to mind.

The Pseudometer ● 6998d

Just to get this thread back on track, does anyone have an update on the status of the burst water main?

James de Vivenot ● 6998d

I perosonally couldn't see the merit of running it in any futher than Ealing and using funds to improve the district line services in particular would have been better. As you know they are awful for the most part.  I could see good reason for it to run from Uxbrdiege to Ealing as the public transprt services in that part of London are rather disjointed and need integrating.  I faily to see how mobility would have been impoeded for non-car owners in that area. If effectively replacing buses and not duplicating them.  The numbers of people the services would carry were infinitely higher than the two bus services it would have duplicated.It was certainly a confused proposal, but it had its merits and I think improved mobility for non-car owners west of Ealing was one if its biggest arguments.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

The alternative being offered was that £650 million could be spent far more effectively on public transport than spending it on a tram that duplicated existing bus routes and reduced journey times only fractionally. In fact the scheme reduced mobility for those that didn't have cars because the stops were much further apart that the existing bus stops. If the tram wasn't going to go through Acton where exactly were you thinking of directing?

Justin Harris ● 6998d

There is no reason why there shoudn't be a west London Tram, perhaps running it through Acton Town itself was rather silly considering the distinct lack of space in the centre of the place. My point of view was that opponents didn't offer an alterantive and if your going to knock something that will improve mobility for those that do not have cars on such a massive scale you really should offer an alternative. None of the three relevant councils have done so. It came across as just NIMBY and anti-ken as a campaign.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Ealing Council recently voted on this issue and there was unanimous opposition to the project from all three parties. The Liberal Democrats campaigned against it during the recent elections. Hammersmith Council came out against it whilst it was under Labour control.It was interesting how all the proponents of the scheme would never answer any of the issues raised about the plans but immediately characterised any of its opponents as 'car-lovers'. This was one of the worst conceived public transport projects ever. I surely don't need to give you any more explanation as to why that to point to the fact that today with Brentford High Street closed buses are being diverted. You can't to that with a tram and Acton High Street has been closed at least five times in the last 18 months.

Justin Harris ● 6998d

The opposition to the proposed Street Tramway was nothing to do with 'car loving' as you put it Conal. In this case what was proposed was a 40meter leviathan which was totally wrong for the narrow roads that are part of much of the route, plus the horrendous divertion of traffic into unsuitable parallel side roads, and the huge disruption over many years whilst utilities were diverted. In fact a typical 'one solution fits all situations'attitude. The opposition in fact had some perfectly viable alternatives. If you care to thumb through the threads on 'Ealing Today' you will see various valid alternative arguments, or if you can spare a minute or two go to www.tfwl.org.uk, which whilst advocating one possible and much cheaper alternative, does lay all the arguments out in a rational way.

Colin Vaughan ● 6998d

West London Tram won't happen now I'll bet since all three councils are now controlled by car loving tories.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Annual event Sarah? It happens more often than that in Acton. Tram decision holding up a solution in that case my guess. Hope Ken is not thinking of a tram in Brenford as well!!

Colin Vaughan ● 6998d

The one on Half Acre was for a few years.

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Sorry - but isn't the burst water main in Brentford High Street now an annual event?  :-(

Sarah Felstead ● 6998d

Maybe its an added addition to the festival courtesy of Thames Water. Miffed at not getting in on the act?

Conal Stewart ● 6998d

Oh dear. I see on Chiswick that they have lost water pressure so guess that's why. Hope they get it sorted before Saturday's festival.

Linda F Wright ● 6998d

There is a burst main - quite a serious one apparently and a large section of the high street is closed with water gushing everywhere.

Dan Evans ● 6998d

I heard something about a burst water main but no specifics

Andy Jones ● 6998d