Key Points
- Havering Council’s Leader Cllr Ray Morgon and Cabinet Member Cllr Barry Mugglestone are actively pressing Transport for London (TfL) and Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) for a firm completion date on the Gallows Corner flyover project.
- A site visit revealed some progress on the south side of Gallows Corner but highlighted significant delays and no confirmed end date.
- Delays primarily stem from complications with ESW’s water mains diversion, particularly due to unforeseen poor ground conditions.
- The delays are impacting Havering residents, businesses, schools, emergency services, and wider council highway programmes.
- Havering Council has formally lodged concerns with ESW over communication and delay issues.
- The project is strategically critical for the borough’s transport network.
- TfL and contractors are revising programmes, with ongoing efforts to ease traffic congestion caused by the works.
- The flyover closure originally scheduled to end in September 2025 is now extended with no firm reopening date.
What is the current status of the Gallows Corner flyover project?
As reported by Havering Council’s official website, the council leadership alongside TfL representatives and Costain contractors recently conducted a second site visit to Gallows Corner. Cllr Ray Morgon, Leader of Havering Council, said that there was some visible progress on the south side of the junction including a pillar being lifted into place. However, there remains serious concern regarding the lack of a confirmed completion date for the project. The council learned that the most significant delay is due to issues with Essex and Suffolk Water’s parallel water mains diversion project at the site, complicated by poor ground conditions encountered during tunnelling which had not been anticipated in prior assessments. This has caused a significant extension to the timeline for finishing the flyover works.
Why are there delays in the Gallows Corner works?
Delays are mainly attributed to Essex and Suffolk Water experiencing unexpected difficulties with the water mains renewal works that run adjacent to the flyover construction. According to Transport for London updates and Havering Council statements, ESW’s drilling had to stop due to poor ground conditions, prompting them to undertake trial pits and revise their construction methodology and programme. Havering Council has expressed frustration that these ground condition complications should have been identified earlier during site investigations, implying an oversight that has now pushed back the project’s completion timeline substantially.
How are the delays affecting the local community and services?
Havering Council emphasises that the delays are seriously impacting local residents, businesses, schools, emergency services, and public services. The prolonged construction period is causing disruptions across the borough’s transport network, creating traffic congestion and hindering access. Furthermore, these delays are causing knock-on effects on the Council’s wider highways improvement plans, delaying other critical infrastructure works. Councillor Barry Mugglestone has formally written to Clair Mann, Chief Operating Officer at TfL, to express these concerns along with requests for clear resolutions and potential compensation for those adversely affected. The Council has also formally logged its concerns with ESW, urging better communication going forward.
What are the official plans and closures related to the Gallows Corner project?
According to Transport for London’s official Gallows Corner flyover refurbishment page, the ongoing project includes the full renewal and strengthening of the flyover, aiming to remove existing speed and weight restrictions and improve journey time reliability. Major works started with partial lane closures in March 2025, progressing to a full closure of the Gallows Corner junction (both roundabout and flyover) from 23 June 2025, originally scheduled to last until September 2025. During this closure, general vehicle traffic is restricted, with only emergency vehicles, black cabs, and TfL buses allowed through. The closure has caused significant traffic congestion on surrounding roads, and TfL has been trialling changes in traffic signal timings to ease pinch points.
What actions have the council and TfL taken in response to the delays?
The council continues to actively engage with all parties involved to hold them to account. Following the latest site visit and ongoing delays, Havering Council has intensified pressure on TfL and ESW for transparent communication and speedy resolution. Councillor Morgon stressed the strategic importance of Gallows Corner to the borough’s transport and pledged ongoing scrutiny of the project’s progress. On the TfL side, contractors are revising construction programmes to accommodate the extended ESW works. TfL has also made operational adjustments on nearby signalised junctions and bus services to mitigate traffic impacts. Furthermore, fixed penalty notices have been issued to TfL for the overrun, underscoring the severity of the delay and the need for accountability.
What is the outlook for completing the Gallows Corner works?
Currently, no definitive completion date is available as the project’s timeline hinges on resolving the complications encountered by Essex and Suffolk Water. Ground investigations are ongoing to determine viable construction methods to overcome the poor conditions. Havering Council remains committed to pursuing an efficient and transparent completion of the flyover owing to its critical role in the borough’s transport network. Meanwhile, residents and businesses are urged to plan journeys with delays in mind, as congestion and disruption persist through the autumn months and likely beyond.
