Fulham Prepares for Traffic Chaos from Monday
As eight months of work by National Grid begins on King's Road
Fulham residents are preparing for traffic chaos as long planned essential pipe repairs by National Grid begins on February 1.
The work is set to last eight months with the closure of a westbound section of King's Road on the Fulham Chelsea border and diversions for cars and buses.
National Grid says the work represents part of a £1billion replacement of 1,800 miles of gas pipes across London, which are no longer fit for purpose.
The first phase of works, running from February to late April, will be between Gunter Grove and Edith Grove with a diversion for westbound traffic along the south side of Edith Grove and up Ashburnham Road.
The following phase of work, from Stanley Bridge to Gunter Grove, will run from May until September, with a diversion running west along Fulham Road.
An extra diversion route will be used during Chelsea FC’s home games.
You can see details of the diversions on this map.
Some bus routes in the area will also be affected, with diversions from February till April as follows:
Routes 11, 22, 328, N11, N22 and N31 - all existing bus stops will be maintained
C3 northbound to Earls Court will use its current route and stops
C3 southbound to Clapham Junction will be diverted along Edith Grove, Cremorne Road and Lots Road to Chelsea Harbour Avenue. This means it will miss the stop on Lots Road at the end of Burnaby Street and the stop outside of World’s End Health Centre. A temporary stop will be located opposite the Chelsea Academy on Lots Road.
There will be further diversions during the second phase of the works.
" These works are going to cause some localised disruption for residents. We have raised concerns with National Grid and in response they have set out to minimise the disruption as far as possible. We will monitor the works closely and do everything we can to represent resident complaints to National Grid if they arise," says Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Residents’ Services.
On its website, National Grid says: " The programme will reduce the amount of unplanned work on our gas network and is essential to provide safe and reliable energy to the people in our communities running businesses, schools and homes.
" For most of the work we insert the new pipes into the old mains. This reduces the need for digging and minimises disruption to residents, businesses and road users. We will use sound reducing technologies and avoid digging long trenches where possible. We keep local communities informed of our work and liaise closely with local authorities. We also work with companies and agencies carrying out other infrastructure projects so that our work is coordinated with others.
" We are listening to local businesses and residents in developing the traffic management plan. We are doing everything possible to reduce the impact while being mindful of the different needs of residents, businesses and motorists. Throughout the work all shops and businesses will be open as usual and we will maintain access for deliveries. I would like to thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation."
If you require more information, you can call or email National Grid's Community Relations Team free on 0800 389 8261, email nationalgrid@londongasmains.co.uk or write to:
National Grid Community Relations
Freepost RRKX/EBGK/XXHT
PO Box 5689
London, W1A 4FG
For 24 hour operational enquiries please call 0800 096 5678.
January 29, 2016
