Last week, I went on another site visit to Gallows Corner with Transport for London (TfL) and Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) to get the latest on the woefully delayed flyover project.
When I met the water company’s chief executive, Heidi Mottram, a couple of weeks ago, she advised that Essex & Suffolk Water expects to finish its remaining works on the water pipe under Gallows by the end of July, with testing then continuing into August.
After that, the site is handed back to TfL, who will decide when the remaining road restrictions can finally be lifted.
I wish I could say that residents have finally been given the reassurance they need but I am not going to pretend that another projected timeline will automatically restore confidence.
As I said in a recent video update, trying to predict when this will be done is a mug’s game.
The original works were meant to take around 10 weeks.
We were then told the junction would fully reopen by the end of April.
That deadline passed.
Now we are talking about the end of summer and October has even been mentioned by the council leader.
I was interested to learn recently that it was TfL that requested the replacement of the water main during the Gallows works – something ESW apparently resisted.
It may have sounded sensible on paper to renew the pipe while the junction was closed, but in practice it has created a hugely complex engineering challenge, involving building a u-shaped replacement pipe to avoid other infrastructure beneath the road.
TfL is apparently paying for the water pipe replacement, which raises big questions.
They chose a less ambitious flyover scheme on cost grounds, but the associated water works are now costing millions.
If that work turns out to have been unnecessary, then the money could have been better spent on a more comprehensive road scheme or other TfL investment across Havering – from better tube stations to north-south transport connections.
It also begs the question of whether TfL is prepared for the disruption that will come from the replacement Lodge Avenue flyover on the A13.
The ongoing works at Gallows Corner, one of our most important junctions, have meant longer journeys, congestion, frustration and major financial damage to local firms who rely on passing trade.
Throughout this process, my team and I have pressed TfL, Essex & Suffolk Water, the Mayor of London and ministers for answers.
We helped secure a route for affected businesses to seek business rates relief, but we will keep pushing for every possible mitigation.
- Julia Lopez is Conservative MP for Hornchurch and Upminster.
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