The A4 Hogarth Lane is currently closed in both directions after an HGV collided with the central reservation overnight, resulting a large diesel spillage damaging the road surfacing on both carriageways. All six running lanes need to be resurfaced over a 30 metre long stretch of road between Junction 3 of the M4 and the A4 Hogarth Roundabout.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport, said: “Following a lorry collision a large amount of diesel was split, damaging all six lanes of the A4. I would like to apologise to motorists for the disruption and reassure them that we are working hard to reopen the road as quickly as possible. The carriageway needs to be completely resurfaced over a 30 metre length which we expect to be completed by mid-afternoon.”

Carl Lomas IOC chair was proud to be at one of the most interactive and sincere exchanges of freight issues in the history of the TfL forum. A key note by Mike Brown, the very last word from Ian Wainwright and strong interaction at the round tables for the mayor’s strategy on London for transport. TfL Ben Plouden summarised into six key themes.

Emma Gaydon, RMP Project Manager for TfL writes

Closures on A1 Holloway Road (N19) from 21 October 2016

Reason for closure

From 22:00 on Friday 21 October Transport for London (TfL) will begin a series of closures on a section of the A1 Holloway Road at Upper Holloway (N19) so we can continue work on replacing the century-old Upper Holloway Bridge.

A new service bridge was built in June but a number of problems were encountered while the pipes and cables were moved across. These included difficult ground conditions, a complex web of utilities (some in a very poor condition) and a leaking water main. We needed to safely resolve these issues before continuing the works, and this has delayed the project.

Dates and diversion route

To make up time and ensure we are able to demolish and replace the existing road bridge as planned at Christmas and New Year the following closures on the A1 will be needed. The road will be closed between Fairbridge Road and Wedmore Gardens. Signed diversions will be in place via Junction Road and Tuffnell Park Road.

·         Friday 21 October 22:00 – Monday 31 October 05:00 - closed to all vehicles in both directions

·         Monday 31 October 05:00 – Saturday 24 December 22:00- closed to all vehicles travelling southbound

·         Friday 18 November 22:00 – Monday 21 November 05:00 - closed to all vehicles in both directions

·         Friday 25 November 22:00 – Monday 28 November 05:00 - closed to all vehicles in both directions

Date for replacement of the bridge

This will be followed by the pre-planned full closure between 24 December 2016 and 16 January 2017, when the bridge will be demolished and replaced.

What we are doing

To mitigate disruption, we are reviewing the improvement works at Archway and Highbury Corner and working with the surrounding boroughs to ban all non-emergency roadworks on nearby roads. TfL has also put in place plans to swiftly remove any vehicles blocking key surrounding routes to help reduce disruption. We are also undertaking face to face engagement with businesses across the traffic impact area.

More information

Variable messaging signs will be in place on the A1 and surrounding routes advising drivers of the closure, and TfL will be providing up-to-date information through the @tfltrafficnews Twitter feed. You can also get real time information on closures and impacts at tfl.gov.uk/traffic/status. For more information, the diversion map and traffic impact map is at tfl.gov.uk/upper-holloway-bridge

Infrastructure scored top priority for action, a national flavour with speakers from Coventry and Manchester. Guests from major players to small SMEs and two fully electric fleet operators.

Air quality, payload to weight, range, distance and legislation around charging were the big topics driven from the floor.

Chair Carl Lomas,

The van group clearly has two streams, operators who return vehicles for fuel or charge to their base and operators whose drivers take vehicles home, they are unlikely to have off-street parking, garage or charging facilities, The two groups are very different and each face infrastructure challenges that are quite different.

Emma Gaydon, RMP Project Manager for TfL writes

I am emailing to update you about the City of London’s closure of Tower Bridge. To make sure you have information to plan ahead, please find attached an up to date diversion route map; a map of the mitigations TfL is putting in place to keep traffic moving and an up to date traffic impact map.

The closure extends from the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Queen Elizabeth Street on the south side to the traffic lights by the A100 Tower Bridge Road and A1203 East Smithfield junction on the north side.

Tower Bridge is currently on the boundary route of the Congestion Charging Zone and vehicles crossing the bridge do not incur the charge. Clear ‘charge free’ signage will be in place to guide vehicles. Not using the signed route during charging hours (Mon-Fri 07:00 to 18:00) without paying the daily charge may incur a significant penalty.

The two diversion routes in place are:

·         Northbound - crossing over London Bridge from Borough High Street to Monument and east onto East Cheap Street or Fenchurch Street

·         Southbound - crossing over Southwark Bridge from Upper Thames Street, to Southwark Bridge Road/Marshalsea Road and onto Great Dover Street.

Traffic on the diversion routes will be heavier, with journey times impacted. We would encourage deliveries to customers to be outside peak times as much as possible. Our on street enforcement teams will be actively monitoring the area to ensure vehicles are not stopping illegally on the diversion routes and the London Transport Control Centre (LSTCC) will be monitoring all roads and changing light phasing on key routes to help manage traffic. Additional ANPR cameras are also being installed.

The Freight and Fleet team have been out visiting businesses in the impact area but we suggest you also contact your clients as well to discuss retiming deliveries.

More details at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/towerbridgeclosure

Remember we have live updates on road disruption and delays at www.tfl.gov.uk/traffic/status

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport for TfL comments,

Ian was a key player in the development of the original London Freight Plan and led the freight team during the 2012 Olympics, ensuring the success of both the freight industry and London during the Games. The fact that all of this year's Mayoral candidates included freight policies in their manifestos is a testament to Ian and the work of his team to ensure that the lessons from the Games were captured and developed upon. Ian will remain in post until after the Freight Forum on 21 October where we will provide an update as to how our Freight Programme will be managed in the future.

In the interim, the main contacts for the Freight team remain as:

-Tim Ward, Engagement Manager for Freight Communications
-Stephen Steele, Programme Manager for Efficient Deliveries
-Hannah White, Programme Manager for Safety & Environment
-Paul Strang, Senior Strategy & Planning Manager for Freight Strategy