As survey expects 31 million car journeys to be made over Christmas, Transport for London unveils festive roadworks on Embankment, Blackfriars Road and Old Street
Transport for London (TfL) has announced the details of its festive road work programme, which will hit parts of the Embankment, Blackfriars Road and Old Street – on the same day a survey suggested 31 million car journeys will be taken over the Christmas period.
TfL said it was taking advantage of a time when roads in the capital are 20 per cent quieter to continue work on its £4bn road modernisation plan.
But it added that it will suspend bridge refurbishment on the A406 at Neasden "to allow one of the busiest roads in the South East to be fully open for drivers." So there's that, at least…
"Significant" works will take place at:
- Cycle Superhighway 1: Old Street/Great Eastern Street junction in Shoreditch
- Cycle Superhighway 2: Along the A11 between Mansell Street and Osborn Street and at the Fairfield Road/Bow Road junction
- Cycle Superhighway East-West: Victoria Embankment, Upper Thames Street and Tower Hill
- Cycle Superhighway North-South: Blackfriars Road between Southwark Street and Stamford Street
- Elephant and Castle: Newington Causeway
- Stockwell: Work will take place at the Clapham Road/Stockwell Road junction
Meanwhile, a survey by RAC Traffic Watch suggested drivers will make 4.1 million separate journeys on Christmas Eve alone, with 31 million journeys expected to be taken across the entire Christmas period.
On Christmas day and Boxing day, 7.1 million journeys will take place, while 3.3 million will happen tomorrow, and 3.5 million on Sunday.
Still, at least the Great Christmas Getaway will be cheaper this year: according to the RAC, it now costs £7 less to fill up a petrol family car than it did last Christmas. Something to ruminate on, while you're stuck in a festive traffic jam…