Putney Bridge roadworks likely to finish ahead of schedule, says council
By Charlotte Lilywhite, Local Democracy Reporter
Major roadworks at 138-year-old Putney Bridge are expected to be completed ahead of schedule in December, Wandsworth council has said.
The authority has apologised for the disruption caused by the works at the junction of Putney Bridge Road, Lower Richmond Road and Putney High Street so far, but has outlined steps it has taken to cut congestion after reviewing feedback from residents.
It has reopened a lane on Lower Richmond Road to traffic and put up more signs on the bridge, which connects Putney to Fulham, so drivers can move into the correct lane sooner.
The authority is also working on quieter Sundays where possible, while it has planned more overnight working. It has also worked with Transport for London (TfL) to reopen bus stops on the northern side of the bridge.
Fresh traffic monitoring, the council said, has shown improvements in congestion and journey times across the junction as drivers adjust to the new layout.
It comes after a petition from Wandsworth Conservatives slammed the roadworks for causing ‘traffic chaos’ at the already congested junction. The petition called for the project to be delayed until ‘sensible plans’ to reduce its impact could be put in place.
But Labour councillor Jenny Yates, cabinet member for transport, said: “We know that Putney Bridge is a really busy part of our borough, and completing any kind of roadworks here is extremely challenging. However, the works desperately needed completing, and we have worked closely with TfL to plan the traffic management, and minimise disruption as much as possible.”
Councillor Yates added the scheme, which was due to be completed at Christmas, is ‘slightly ahead of schedule’ as ‘work has progressed well on site’.
The project includes upgrading traffic lights at the junction, removing some pedestrian islands to allow people to cross in fewer stages and introducing a new segregated northbound cycle lane up to the bridge.
Pictured top: Putney Bridge (Picture: Wandsworth council)