Residents living near a notorious East London roundabout where there are crashes “every day” fear work to improve the junction could cause businesses to close and traffic chaos. Gallows Corner, in Romford, is infamous for being dangerous to drive on and in need of a major revamp.
The flyover was built in the 1970s as a temporary structure but 55 years on it is struggling to keep up with the demands of traffic. Speed and weight restrictions have kept the flyover running safely but also mean that Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) have been unable to use it.
Transport for London (TfL) has now begun works to completely renew and replace the structure which will allow lorries to use the flyover and relieve pressure on the notorious roundabout below. However, those living near the roundabout worry that this work may cause “chaos”, as the junction prepares for a full closure from June to September this year.
“I avoid this road like the plague, no one indicates and they go too fast but I think it's one of those things where wait and see because it's going to be closed for two years, it's going to cause chaos,” said local resident Neil Hawkes.
He added: “It's about time it's been done, it's been up since 1970 and I’m 55 - they should knock the thing down and start again - it's dangerous. There’s been so many people killed. Three or four years ago a person hit the barrier and went over it.”
Despite being an advocate for the works, Mr Hawkes has doubts over how effectively they will be carried out. He says he will have likely moved out the area to Cornwall by the time the work is completed.
He added: “The council doesn't have the money to repair it, there will be more work. It’s been start and stop. Whatever they do it will be a sticking plaster. If they do a good job it doesn’t matter. They may as well close it for a year and then they can leave it.”
Shane, who works at Wax On, a car washing business situated on the roundabout, says he fears the business may close down when the roundabout is under a full closure. From June to September this year the roundabout will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles and buses and diversion routes will be in place for cars and pedestrians.
“We’ve not been told anything. Well we'll close if that happens [the closure]. What the point in opening if no one's going to come? I’ll go find another job - there’s works there if you want to work,” he told MyLondon.
Despite the effects the closure may have on his job, Shane still believes that the roundabout is a dangerous place to drive. He said: “Everyone speeds, everyday there’s accidents or every other day.”
Another resident, Mr Sexton has lived on a road directly leading to the Gallows Corner roundabout for 30 years. He says that the work is needed to sort out the dangerous driving conditions there.
“My wife won't go over it when she’s in the car. There’s been a few accidents on it in the last few years,” he said. “It was only supposed to be up there for five years. There's been accidents. I've seen traffic accidents on the roundabout. Since KFC has been there the accidents have gotten worse.”
Michael, who lives in the area, says that the main issue on the roundabout is traffic. He said: “During traffic hours it's a problem because there’s one two three four streets coming to the roundabout and there’s lots of cars. If I go to Romford, from Romford to the car wash I can wait in traffic for 30 minutes.”
He added: "If [the work takes] a long time or a short time it doesn’t matter - the important thing is that it's effective. Every two months there’s work happening on the street - it's too much."
Work on the Gallows Corner Flyover, funded with support from the Department for Transport, aims to ensure the long-term safety of the structure and allow for the removal of current speed and weight restrictions, say TfL. The first phase of the work has seen lane closures in place since March 10.
TfL 'closely monitoring' roads and bus routes for impact
A spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) said: “The project will involve the complete renewal and replacement of the entire structure, other than its foundations. This will allow for the removal of speed and weight restrictions, improving journey time reliability for thousands of people travelling through the area.
"New pedestrian and cycle crossings will also be installed to make it easier and safer for people walking and cycling, while improved road markings and resurfacing will improve journeys for people driving.
“A full closure of the junction will be required in the summer to allow this vital work to take place. TfL has worked closely with its partners to minimise disruption as much as possible and will be closely monitoring roads and bus routes during work to ensure Londoners can continue to travel.
“The phases of work with the biggest impact on the road network have been timed to coincide with the summer period, when traffic on the network is generally lower than at other times of the year. TfL will implement a traffic signal strategy to reduce the impact of the work as much as possible. Full travel advice is available on the TfL website at tfl.gov.uk/gallows-corner."
From Sunday, March 16 to June 2025 there will be a series of lane closures on some arms of the Gallows Corner roundabout. A full closure will then be in place from June until September, before the final phase of mostly night-time works.
Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com
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