Topic: | Re:Chiswick gridlocked once again | |
Posted by: | Ian Wylie | |
Date/Time: | 07/03/15 20:41:00 |
I walked south this afternoon (Saturday) from South Parade to Chiswick Bridge via the High Road, Grove Park etc. Then across Chiswick Bridge to Chalker's Corner at Mortlake. Returning back over Chiswick Bridge, along the A316 and then east across the Hogarth Roundabout…taking photos as I walked, including of the signage for westbound traffic heading towards the Hogarth Roundabout. A steady stream of cars ignored the "Road Ahead Closed" / "Strictly Local Access" signs at Hogarth and headed towards Chiswick Bridge. It would appear unlikely all of those vehicles were "local". I assume some simply didn't believe the signs while others saw one car diving down the A136 towards Chiswick Bridge and probably thought the driver in front knew better. But I saw just one lorry head for Chiswick Bridge - a Sainsbury's vehicle - which then was turned around at the bridge barriers and headed back to the Hogarth. While most of the cars simply turned right into a rather peaceful Hartington Road. But guessing not so peaceful once they hit the bottleneck of Thames Road. What was clear was some intensive and detailed work going on across Chiswick Bridge itself - not just road resurfacing but what looked like deep new drains / gullies under the road and pavement. Plus a separate crew working on boats and a hoist floating under the central arch of the bridge, which is also closed this weekend. Leaving aside other arguments, I do wonder why works were sanctioned this weekend closing both the District Line between Chiswick and Richmond and the Overground from South Acton and Gunnersbury? A number of the buses trapped in the Chiswick High Road gridlock were rail replacement services. I know the TfL weekend upgrades are important but it does seem daft to schedule this particular closure at a time when Chiswick Bridge is also closed. |