Forum Topic

Thames Water Works, High Street Brentford (town centre)

The Council has received advice that the works associated with Thames Water’s Victorian Water Mains Replacement Programme are causing significant delays through the Brentford Town Centre.  Council officers are examining options to try to improve the situation.  In the meantime residents are advised to steer clear if at all possible. Chris Calvi-FreemanHead of TransportLondon Borough of Hounslow

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6308d67 Comments

I often asked council officers about penalty clauses in contracts and was often told that contract prices would simply rise if stiff penalty clauses were included. I was not wholly convinced.

Dan Filson ● 6218d

Thanks for this information Chris.Can you clarify whether there is any financial 'penalty' imposed upon the relevant company or contractor for the works not being completed on time ?.  Does their failure to complete the works in time have any bearing upon the likelihood of the company or the contractor making successful bids for similar work in the future.In short, are the company/contractors in any way accountable and if so to whom ?!.

Adam Beamish ● 6219d

Further to previous:  In fact the works at Kew Bridge are Thames Water mains replacement works  - put back a little by Thames Water’s contractors to try to ensure they didn’t coincide with the Brentford town centre works,  but the delay in completing the former has of course meant the two sets currently coincide.  The Kew Bridge works should be complete by c 30 May, according to their revised programme.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6222d

Not away Maggie and Adam, just busy.As I’ve said several times previously, the Borough has only very limited control over the rights of the utilities to work on the highways.• The Thames Water works in the town centre were pre-planned but have become protracted due to problems encountered by Thames Water’s contractors.• The Scottish & Southern works on the A4 at Gillette Corner were apparently urgent, as a failure in the electricity supply here could have had major consequences throughout a wide area.  TfL therefore apparently let them proceed even though they co-incide with the Thames Water works.• I believe the works near Kew Bridge station are unplanned/urgent.Your concerns have been passed through to our Streetworks section.  Engineers there work closely with the utilities to try to expedite these works and ensure that best practice traffic management is employed at the worksites, balancing traffic flows with worker and pedestrian safety etc.I often use this route deliberately to see what effect these sorts of works are having on buses, cyclists, pedestrians and general traffic.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6222d

Chris was posting on W4 website earlier this afternoon.  If this is his area, then he would normally respond, sure he will sometime soon.

Maggie Dodge ● 6222d

Chris used to normally drive to work from Chiswick via the A4 (as did I).  He seems to gone rather quiet on this topic but of course may well be away.  Should stress I'm not pointing the finger at Chris as an individual, more the whole Council/Councillors/other organisations etc.  Definitely get the impression at the moment that the Council isn't particularly bothered.Fair to say if you hit the roadworks at the western end of Brentford after 8pm you're ok, and the other day at 5.30pm the ones at Kew Bridge weren't as horrendous as earlier in the week, but suspect just got lucky as traffic was light.

Adam Beamish ● 6222d

I am pretty sure that Chris Calvi Freeman lives in Chiswick and would have to pass Brentford to get to work.  I am sure he will correct me if I am wrong.  As this is his 'field' I am sure he would like to reply to you anyway.

Maggie Dodge ● 6222d

The whole roadworks thing is a fiasco as is the redevelopment of Brentford. The trouble is nobody coordinates or thinks things through. I don't believe that Hounslow Council is the slightest bit interested in Brentford. They obviously never travel through here otherwise they would bo someting to improve the place!

Elizabeth Price ● 6222d

Fair point Steve, but at the very least I think they should acknowledge the concerns several of us are expressing.  After all the highways maintenance programme etc. goes through the Area Committee for comment etc.  And the Councillors could demand that Officers present a report to committee outlining why the works are taking so long, public accountability and all that.I'm sure most Brentford residents have similar views about MP's expenses etc. to most of the population, so it isn't really a local issue that deserves a similar amount of attention as this issue, which directly affects us on a daily basis (by delaying journeys to/from work, preventing businesses operating, deterring potential customers or users of facilities etc).  I am genuinely surprised that not one Councillor has posted about this over the last few days.

Adam Beamish ● 6223d

Yep, I've lived here since September 2002, and the road from Kew Bridge to Busch Corner has essentially been one ongoing piece of maintenance.  And we have more to 'look forward' to when the works start at the Ealing Road junction...

Adam Beamish ● 6223d

"Rare for me to say it but I'm not impressed that local politicians seem more interested in the whole furore about MP's expenses and the Keens than what's going on every day on their own doorstep."I don't believe its up to local politicians - this is surely local operational management which should be dealt with by Council officers. All it takes is for a Senior officer to pick up the phone and speak to Thames Water or the local contractor and get some answers and agree an action plan.

Steve Taylor ● 6223d

Adam, I agree with you.Living near Syon Lane is a bind at the moment, and has been since the TW works started. But in the 3 years I've lived here there have been road issues - starting with the collapsed water main.  Then the TfL London Road bus lane (still not convinced it was worth £1m, despite it being 'award-winning).  Now the various TW and the Gillete Corner works. And some other ones in between I think.My patience has run out.  Why would TfL and TW plan to have 2 major pieces of work running at the same time, affecting the same traffic flow.  Or does the word 'plan' not feature?

Paul Garnham ● 6224d

Well in some ways I've ranted about this over the last 48 hours, but I stand by everything I've said, and I'm surprised that more people aren't saying the same thing.Joined up thinking between different companies isn't a concern at the moment, as its the same company/same contractors doing the work at both ends of the Kew Bridge/Brentford area and causing massive inconvenience to all residents and business that happen to live/occupy premises between the two sets of roadworks.Rare for me to say it but I'm not impressed that local politicians seem more interested in the whole furore about MP's expenses and the Keens than what's going on every day on their own doorstep.

Adam Beamish ● 6224d

As I biked west through the TW works tonight and got the usual whiff of gas twenty yards before the canal, I wondered whether the utilities are joined up enough to do both jobs with one digging of the road - or will Thames reinstate their bit ready for British Gas or whoever to do the job on their own....

Tim Henderson ● 6224d

I really don't think the current situation is acceptable, and I am surprised that our local Councillors haven't recently posted about this or taken this matter up, as it is having seriously adverse consequences for Brentford residents and businesses.Regardless of which way traffic approaches Brentford from the south, it has to hit roadworks.  My 6.5 mile commute home from Teddington is taking in excess of 50 minutes either way, with the last 1.5 miles taking 30 minutes.I see absolutely no urgency by Laing or TW.  It's a disgrace and it shouldn't be happening, the works should have phased to avoid each other, and questions should be asked why they weren't.

Adam Beamish ● 6225d

Thank you Chris for the update.  I do hope TW get finished in the time you suggest, the traffic situation in the area is, if anything, getting worse.  And now the Gillete Corner works are going to be over 2 months late (how does that happen...?), getting traffic flowing on at least one of the routes into London should be a priority.  I know it's not under your control Chris - I'm not shooting the messenger!PLEASE don't dig up any roads between Isleworth and Chiswick until my blood pressure has had the chance to revert to normal....

Paul Garnham ● 6225d

Walking past the Kew Bridge site today it isn't clear at all to drivers how long one lane at the junction is going to be coned off for.  I'm surprised that, given the inevitable tailbacks at the day this is causing and its location on one of London's main roads, that warnings of this aren't being indicated further afield.Trying to resist going into a rant but really cheesed off with these works which have been going on for absolutely ages and seem to be occurring without any sense of urgency or priority (e.g. the lane coned off at Kew Bridge - there's absolutely nothing going on in the coned off lane), and are causing traffic 'hell' (it is the only appropriate word for it).I am now faced with a journey home where I choose between (1) coming up through Isleworth and getting stuck at the roadworks as I hit Brentford on the A315, or (2) coming up Kew Road from Richmond and getting stuck at (well actually well before) Kew Bridge for the lane closure.  Same problems for buses so public transport not an alternative.I just can't see why it is deemed acceptable to have both 'ends' of Brentford jammed up at once.

Adam Beamish ● 6225d

Chris,Any idea about the duration of the lane closure on Chiswick High Road outside Kew Bridge Station ? - this was causing massive tailbacks back along the South Circular and Kew Road this afternoon.One day I might actually be able to get home (Kew Bridge Road) from Teddington without having to encounter some temporary roadworks !.

Adam Beamish ● 6225d

The main problem here is the disasterous phasing of the lights at Commerce Road to the High Road.  All the busses pull out from Commerce Road, the lights change and nothing can move.  There is then a wait of around 5 minutes before the next green light.  This is causing the backlog back towards the Coach  & Horses and beyond.  It is untold misery for residents of Brentford Dock.

Jan Riley ● 6225d

The main problem here is the disasterous phasing of the lights at Commerce Road to the High Road.  All the busses pull out from Commerce Road, the lights change and nothing can move.  There is then a wait of around 5 minutes before the next green light.  This is causing the backlog back towards the Coach  & Horses and beyond.  It is untold misery for residents of Brentford Dock.

Jan Riley ● 6225d

PaulLatest advice from officers here is that Thames Water have been struggling with the locations and juxtaposition of pipes and cables under the High Street and that the 2 way lights will be in operation for about another 8-10 days.  The latest programme from Scottish & Southern at Gillette Corner suggests completion about 15 July.Please don’t shoot the messenger.“Widening of Kew Bridge Road?”  Do you mean the Ealing Rd/High Street junction?  This will be later in the summer as we will need to wait for the above works to be completed.  The exact sequence of works has not yet been compiled but should not involve prolonged periods of “two-way lights”.  The existing lights will probably be placed in barrels and the junction should be able to operate more or less normally through most of the works, then new lights will be switched on and the old ones removed.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6226d

On the odd occasion I take the camera out for random photos I am often asked if I work for the Council.I explain what I am doing and why and the person tends to speak to me as if I do work for the council anyway.  It is as if they are grateful to hold a conversation about pavements roads and whatever comes to mind.  The hold up at Gillette corner is causing me a great deal of grief, even though I am not CCF.  :-)

Sarah Felstead ● 6226d

Chris, you mentioned '2-3 weeks of two way traffic lights'.  2 weeks will be up by the end of this week.  Is it too optimistic to expect this to be finished on schedule now?The Gillete Corner works (I know these are TfL controlled) seem to be over-running too - according to the TfL website they should be completed today...Meanwhile the misery continues. This has been 3 months of stress and delays and increased pollution as the traffic backs up in the area daily.  When are you planning on starting the widening of Kew Bridge Road?  Will this require two-way lights?Thanks,Paul

Paul Garnham ● 6226d

Paul - Latest information from our Streetworks section, who have been liaising with Thames Water:We are looking at another 2-3 weeks of two way traffic lights then completion on the high road by the end of May.  Thames Water are currently working from Tallow Rd towards Brentford Bridge and have encountered shallow water mains in close proximity to gas mains, which means they need to break through reinforced concrete, which is (450-500mm deep) by hand.  Hence their programme as slipped somewhat.  They are working weekends but not all weekend due to the need for some noise respite for local residents.To the best of my knowledge this will be the end of the works along the A315.Adam  -  Thanks for your observations re the crossings, which I have emailed to our Streetworks section for their urgent attention.. Tim  - this all seems quite odd.  Will look into it when I get a minute. 

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6242d

I was reassured to note that yesterday DEFRA published its application to the EU  to seek the derogation on the PM10 air quality limit values to 2011 and included in the (unbelievably long) list of measures being undertaken :"UK0001_PM10_annual_UTLocal_Hownslow_A2; Improve coordination of road works and provide more effective signing around them.Traffic/ Transport coordinators in place to look at road works across the borough to minimise traffic disruption."column S in sheet 7_local(b)http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/eu-int/eu-directives/airqual-directives/documents/annex-a-pm10-forms.xlshttp://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/eu-int/eu-directives/airqual-directives/notification.htmNo doubt Stavros Dimas will be over shortly to check that it is working well (and perhaps query why the document uses the perverse spelling of Hownslow).Other items I was surprised to see as listed (and therefore presumably active) were :Implement tram system along the A4 in line with Council Policy.Project for the Sustainable Development of Heathrow (PSDH) may investigate this measure. Report due Summer 2007.Implement Idling Vehicles Regulations and actively promote the use of the Dirty Diesel Hotline for reporting smoky vehicles spotted in Hounslow.Idling vehicles program guidelines drafted – implementation to start 2007/2008.

Tim Henderson ● 6242d

I was thinking this yesterday - it took me 55 minutes yesterday to drive from the Kew Bridge side of Brentford over to Teddington (under 7 miles), partly due to the Brentford roadworks, and then due to what I can only describe as 'muppets' working on behalf of TfL who thought it was ok to cone off one lane of the A316 all the way from the Twickenham roundabout down to the roundabout at Hospital Bridge (a distance of around 2 miles) and all that was going on in the coned off lane was there were 2 vans parked vans with three men ambling around the rear doors within 100 yards of the latter roundabout.What has bemused me Chris is why both the pelican crossing in the middle of the High Street and the zebra crossing near the Six Bells have remained operational ?.Never have I gone through those roadworks without someone using either crossing and consequently causing a 'blockage' in the single lane.  Buses have almost found it impossible to manoeuvere around the roadworks which has caused more delays.I have no doubt the answer about the crossing will relate to the need for pedestrians to cross the High Street safely, and if both those crossings were out of use pedestrians would either have to use the junction at the Beehvie or the Commerce Road junction, but I don't think this section of the roadworks, its phasing, layout etc, has been at all well organised or implemented.

Adam Beamish ● 6242d

'programmed to be completed on 24/04/09'They're not....  Although to be fair it looks like they're nearly finished.  The traffic in the area has become a twice-daily (to and from work) stress which I am willing to be over soon.  Chris, please tell me that there are no other plans for more roadworks of this level of disruption for at least the next few months. This has been truly painful.

Paul Garnham ● 6242d

PaulAs noted on 16/3 - “The High Street works… are programmed to be completed on 24/04/09, with two way lights being used when work reaches Tallow Road.”Thames Water will have a contraflow (2 way lights) in operation in the Tallow Road /Augustus Close area through to 17 April, except for Easter.  As this contraflow is much shorter than the one at the Half Acre junction in Feb/March delays would be somewhat less serious.  The borough has no control over the works on the A4 at Gillette Corner  - TfL knew that the High Street works were still in operation when they approved the A4 works.  I don’t know how long those works will take but will try to obtain this information.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6260d

Here we go again....  Traffic backed up all over London Road/Syon Lane this morning because of the new TW contraflow in Brentford and the continuing works on the A4. Chris, do you know how long this phase will take and also how long the works on the A4 will take (I know they are TfL controlled)?  Many thanks.

Paul Garnham ● 6260d

The worst of this is now over.  The contra-flow lights have gone and the normal traffic signals at the Half Acre / High St junction are back in action.However, Thames Water will probably deploy temporary traffic lights at the Tallow Road junction as the Victorian mains replacement work proceeds west towards Augustus Close in the next few days.  So please allow enough time in your journey to cope with more disruption (hopefully nowhere near as bad as recently) in this area over the next fortnight until the work is finished.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6274d

Beccy Thorp ● 6274d

Paul et alLatest advice from our streetworks section:The previously mentioned date was for the temporary lights to come down not for the completion of the High Street works, this is programmed to be completed on 24/04/09 with two way lights being used when work reaches Tallow Road. Unfortunately, Laings/Thames were unable to shut down and decommission valves in the junction, therefore the lights have had to remain in place until approximately 19/03/09 while these valves are excavated.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6282d

'Best to avoid the area if at all possible until c 10 March.'The Brentford 'contraflow' is still there and the hole on the A4 eastbound by Gillette Corner is still there, making the traffic around this area miserable.Any news on when it's going to be finished?Thanks.

Paul Garnham ● 6283d

You've kind of answered your own question - roadworks.  I truly cannot believe it is just a coincidence that the end of the financial year is nearing and yet every authority is carrying out extensive road repairs.It's probably also the busiest time of the year school run wise, weather still not great, kids are at lessons rather than doing mocks or exams, my journey time halves when the schools are shut.Not had a problem with abusive cyclists, but I guess they are responding to abuse (if they do jump lights etc then in my view they deserve criticism but nonetheless that opens the door for them to abuse you back).

Adam Beamish ● 6293d

Does anybody know why the traffic is even worse than normal. It has been for the past 3 days and its taking me even longer to get to work than usual. Also has anybody else had problems with abusive cyclists who cut in front of the cars and buses waiting to go through the roadworks. They then make abusive remarks towards the motorists who have been stuck behind and waiting to get through :-(These roadworks are generally making the journey to work a misery and I hope they finish soon :-(

Adam Toms ● 6293d

Chris many thanks.  I had already e-mailed this department via the website, about a week ago.  E-mailed again this morning using the e-mail address you gave me and got this out of office reply"Thank you for your e-mail. A member of our team will reply to your e-mail within 10 working days.Alternatively, you may find the answers to your queries on the internet under:-General highways:The pot hole in question is more like a crater, very deep,  so I do hope someone is monitoring this e-mail address. 

Maggie Dodge ● 6293d

Keith - I am sure you are right.  I am not an apologist for Thames Water.  I merely stated that they have a major programme under way and that this is what is causing traffic delays.Maggie  - potholes: email highways@hounslow.gov.uk

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6294d

Tim, I have recently reported pot holes in Windmill Road, Chiswick which achieved nothing, it was on the Hounslow website but maybe didn't go to the right place, will have to try again.  I appreciated your honest reply to the question about red lights, fully expected the usual tirade of abuse about car drivers.  Safe cycling.

Maggie Dodge ● 6294d

Chris,it's all very well coming out with the '1000 miles of Victorian pipework being replaced'mantra but let's not be under any misconception.TW were told by Ofwat to do the maintenance that they had for years neglected to do by 2011 I believe.They have also put up water rates to pay for this ,whilst of course their share holders have had their dividends oover the years.The expression 'all the rif=ghts without any of the responsibilities'is playing on my lips.How come,if the above is not so,is it that I have been driving in London for 30 years and never saw any water related roadworks until about 3 years ago?

Keith Iddon ● 6294d

I try to avoid them !I do not hug the kerb (which means if there is one in my path I can have a choice about which side to pass it on.)I report them to fillthathole and they get filled in.Hounslow has improved a lot on the roads I travel on over the last ten years. I used to notice a very real difference entering Hammersmith. I don't now. And Hounslow ranks quite highly for the rate of sorting out "fillthathole" requests.My last major pothole disaster was about ten years ago coming down Ealing Road to the High Street in a thunderstorm. What I thought was a shallow puddle close to the gutter turned out to be four inches deep with a sharp edge - my wheel lost it, my balance went, I hit the kerb and was deposited sliding across the pavement near Walnut Tree Close (you do slide better on wet pavements than dry ones). The bike was unrideable, I was dripping with blood and I limped home in the pouring rain to a hot bath......MORAL - don't ride in the gutter and beware that puddles may be hidden potholes.I observe and obey most red traffic lights (I'd guess 95%) - the exception is the left hand turn at the top of my road on to the west-bound A4 off-road cycle path. I have been known to go through light-controlled pedestrian crossings when the person has already crossed and there is no-one else in the vicinity - but tonight I did get odd looks from the bus driver approaching me along Bell Road who found me stopped in the rain on one side of the Hounslow High Street crossing as he pulled up on the other and we both waited for forty seconds for a green light with no pedestrian anywhere near us.

Tim Henderson ● 6294d

It's mere coincidence Adam.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6295d

Just to go back to Keith's post I'm sure that work was taking place on the High Street around 8am when I drove past yesterday.  Certainly this morning at 08.15 there was quite alot of activity.Traffic this morning was horrendous, basically queuing back from Brentford through Isleworth and down to the A316 (fortunately for me I was going in the other direction, although 40 minutes to drive 7 miles is absurd).  Still think if schools opened earlier or later the whole peak-time congestion problem wouldn't be half as bad.Whilst I take on board what Chris is saying isn't there an element of truth in the belief that there are always far more roadworks going on at this time of year than any other period because authorities and organisations are using up whatever money they have left in their allocated budgets before the end of the financial year ?.  It can't be mere coincidence...

Adam Beamish ● 6295d

Further to my previous message.  The lane closure on the A4 is for electrical works.  Will apparently be in place for some time.  TfL were aware of the Thames Water works on High Street Brentford and their effect on London Road 

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6295d

Paul - The A4 is TfL controlled.  I am aware of an eastbound lane closure (lane 1 at Gillette corner).  Not sure the reason or urgency but will make enquiries.  Steve - Couldn’t make what up?  That Thames Water is replacing 1000 miles of Victorian mains across London or that there may have been an urgent reason for a single lane closure on the 3 lane carriageway at Gillette Corner.Thank goodness the eastbound bus lane along London Road from Syon Lane to Brent Lea is in place, as delays to bus passengers would have been even longer without this.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6295d

You couldn't make it up!!

Steve Taylor ● 6295d

I live by Syon Lane/London Road.  Today the traffic was solid going through Brentford because of the Thames Water works.  So I drove to Chiswick via Gillette Corner and the GW Road.  Only to find that the GW Road is being worked on and there are lane closures.This caused another jam, exacerbated by the fact that traffic was already diverting to avoid Brentford.Is is not possible to co-ordinate these works to avoid double irritation?

Paul Garnham ● 6295d

Keith, I have passed your message to our streetworks team.Just possibly a section of the work has been completed and the road base is currently curing before the asphalt is reinstated.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6295d

Chris,No work done last weekend nor this morning at 10:30.Is this going to turn into another year long fiasco/

Keith Iddon ● 6295d

How do you deal with potholes Tim and are you one of the cyclists that observes red traffic lights?

Maggie Dodge ● 6296d

How do you deal with potholes Tim and are you one of the cyclists that observes red traffic lights?

Maggie Dodge ● 6296d

And Duffy does it without lights :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFQXhivo0Ds

Tim Henderson ● 6297d

I don't feel brave at all !I have swallowed the propaganda that the average health benefits (months of active life) of utility biking outweighs the disbenefits (risk of being prematurely squashed) by an order of magnitude or so. It's much more dangerous to go everywhere by car and take no exercise.Added to which it is cheaper, often faster, more convenient to park, more pleasant than the Tube , doesn't contribute to the air pollution poisoning our kids.......I also believe in training in how to cycle.To quote from CTUK :"Assertive CyclingAssertive road positioning and behaviour are the key to safe cycling.We teach people to use as much road space as they need to travel safely and effectively.We do not believe that cycle lanes are a requirement for safe cycling.(CTUK - from our principleshttp://www.cycletraining.co.uk/about_us/our_principles.php )"And under Red Ken, cycle lanes have improved. Hounslow to Kew Bridge is now massively better than it was ten years ago.(Though reactionary Barnet is now flexing its muscles to test BoJo and remove important bus lanes and there are rumours of other boroughs hovering in the background.)And if the roads are too much now (until you've had your nice man from CTUK to convince you otherwise), wheel the bike out of the garage to a park or a tow path and have a pootle there. (Sustrans/TfL are currently consulting about "Greenways for the Olympics and London" bike routes in North West London. They aren't all built yet but it might give some ideas - summary,full consultation document and big map file available under the North West Area Greenways Study athttp://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1137081747812

Tim Henderson ● 6297d

You're a brave man Tim! I have a bike in my garage which I would love to ride but feel roads round here are just too dangerous. The'cycle lanes' are pathetic and do nothing to protect cyclists. Until things improve my bike will stay put.

Elizabeth Price ● 6297d

I guess it won't endear me to many to report that the works-induced delay to my bike ride through Brentford to Hammersmith this afternoon was relatively minor.And thanks to whoever has finally put a proper dropped kerb on the crossing just east of the canal bridge instead of the cludged temporary (for three years ?) solution of a big pile of tarmac that forced me to veer into the carriageway.

Tim Henderson ● 6297d

Just be thankful you don't live on Brentford Dock! We have suffered 4 months of digging, severely restricted parking and no cooperation from LBH to ease the situation. Now it is difficult to leave the Dock without maximum inconvenience.How many more times is this area of Brentford going to be dug up? The whole of Brentford High Street continues to be a shambles. It is high time the redevelopment was underway. Less talk and more action!

Elizabeth Price ● 6298d

Fair point, I think it's unlikely, but nevertheless it is a possibility.  Did note when I walked past at Saturday lunchtime that they were working then.

Adam Beamish ● 6303d

adam. did you manage to note what time the workers finished? seems they might not start when you want them to, but they'll carry on a little bit past your template for a normal working day?they were certainly working yesterday. doing a good job on what is a mammoth engineering task.

Jamie Halliday ● 6303d

My work colleague is complaining about lack of provision for pedestrians, but haven't been there myself.

Maggie Dodge ● 6305d

I get your point Chris but a dozen men working at half 9 is hardly an achievement - half 8 maybe, but that's the least I expect at half 9.

Adam Beamish ● 6306d

I would have to agree with Alan’s comments that Laing O’Rourke are generally pretty good.  They realise they are working on a strategic road and have advised that they will work seven days a week to get this project finished ASAPI had a look at c0930 yesterday and works were certainly in full swing with about a dozen men working.As work proceeds, the worksite will become significantly shorter over the next day or two, which means the contraflow area will be shorter and the effect on traffic should diminish a little, notwithstanding the fact that the schools will be back next week, which brings extra peak hour traffic.Best to avoid the area if at all possible until c 10 March.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6306d

Perhaps they might employ the approach used on the motorways? There, the contractors in effect rent the road space on which they are working on a daily basis - the faster they finish, the less rent they pay. This is simply built into the contract. Suddenly they are very keen to get the work done asap and save some money.Having said that, compared to many other contractors Laing O'Rourke seem to do a decent job of finish on the work they do. They replaced the cobbles on catherine wheel lane - where I suspect some less careful contractors might have been happy to replace them with a dollop of tar.And is it my imagination or does the water taste better now the old pipes are mostly gone?

Alan Clark ● 6306d

I believe this is a common complaint Adam, when works are causing mayhem, never seems to get any better.

Maggie Dodge ● 6306d

Not much evidence of work being actively progressed at 08.20 this morning when I drove past.  Think they need something of a kick personally.

Adam Beamish ● 6307d

Oops too much use of the word 'anyone' in my last post, I meant "let alone anyone doing any work".  I appreciate the relevant legislation probably restricts them from doing work before 8am (unless it's absolutely urgent) but by 08.10 it would be encouraging to see the work in full swing.

Adam Beamish ● 6307d

I presume this is the Laing O'Rourke badged work close to Somerfield ?.  I was rather irritated yesterday when I drove past at 08.10 and there was no sign of anyone, let anyone anyone doing any work.  At least this morning there was one guy in a digger working, although that was all - the contractors certainly aren't giving the impression they are in any rush to get the job done.

Adam Beamish ● 6307d

SteveThanks for your observations.  Our traffic and highways engineers are looking at options to improve the situation.

Chris Calvi-Freeman ● 6308d

Indeed I suffered considerable delay on Monday when trying to get through (Eastbound) to Kew to join the A4 / M4. I had to go that way as I had to stop at Pets r Us and the Postal  collection Office. Eventually I turned around and headed back towards Isleworth where the tailback was beyond the Green School.I don't know the answer but it occurred  to me that the one way traffic control flow is far to long and the eastbound flow is being hampered by the bus stops so even when it is eastbound traffic's turn to get through, they get stuck behind buses waiting at the bus stops. Possibly some temporary bus stops could be considered with enough room to accommodate traffic to pass.

Steve Taylor ● 6308d