A4 Hammersmith Flyover - Not !!
A4 Hammersmith Flyover - Not !!
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Discussion

SVTRick

Original Poster:

3,633 posts

224 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
A4 Hammersmith Flyover - Not !!

There have been serious corrosion and concrete problems with this structure for years.
It was only a matter of time.
Big fail on the part of TFL and Highways Agency for not getting a new flyover sorted years ago.

The diversion route is going to be major issue as the Hammersmith one way is a PITA at
the best of times.

Merry Christmas from TFL - well TFL you can go fk yourselves and while your at
it hang your heads in shame.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-163162...

C2james

4,685 posts

194 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
I saw Waugh post about this on Facebook, so your not the only PHer stuck in it by the looks of things.


Edit: just realised this is my 2000th post smile

SVTRick

Original Poster:

3,633 posts

224 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
Thankfully I am not but knowing the area this is going to cause massive problems.
One beggs the question why it was not replaced when it became apparent that is was suffering
with the "Concrete Cancer" found many many years ago.

Incompetent Fools.....

grumpy

Olf

11,978 posts

247 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
I can hear Santas big sack of overtime payments being dragged from the north pole as I type this. Coincidence I'm sure.

Petemate

1,674 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
Back in 1993 I was delivering baggage for the airlines, working for Pony Express (part of Securicor Omega then) using my motorbike and a small trailer in the evenings after doing my stint of bank runs in the day. Our controller suggested to the major airlines that once the work, on which the preliminary investigation had started, got under way, we could offer pretty rapid deliveries with my set-up in desperate times, as we were expecting it to be closed fairly soon. It never was, and now the result seems to be a major problem which could (possibly, allegedly...) have been sorted years ago. God help anyone involved in deliveries in and around London for a while now, not to mention the poor commutors (me included - as I exit the M4 in the mornings at Jct 3 I suppose I'll have to start off even earlier now to secure my place in the car park in Hounslow)

rpguk

4,515 posts

313 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
Petemate said:
my motorbike and a small trailer
OT, but curious about this, what was the setup?

DAVEVO9

3,469 posts

296 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
rpguk said:
OT, but curious about this, what was the setup?
It's a funny sight I kid you not


Petemate

1,674 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
rpguk said:
OT, but curious about this, what was the setup?
Trailers of all sizes, for use behind motor bikes, made by Freewheelers. Brilliant for carving up the traffic; AFAIR, City Link used to use them years ago but I think stopped due to too many 'incidents'....

Imagine this, but with a Honda Revere in Pony Express colours:-



Well, that was it - bags on the back, in the trailer, on the trailer - speedy service.

http://www.freewheeluk.net/

Great fun it was

Petemate

1,674 posts

220 months

Friday 23rd December 2011
quotequote all
DAVEVO9 said:
It's a funny sight I kid you not
Yeah - he followed me one day and I was banked over so far on a fast m/way bend that all he could see was the trailer.....well funny

clarkey328is

2,220 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky

Olf

11,978 posts

247 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
clarkey328is said:
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky
Unless you're unable to operate a map you won't have to go anywhere near the M4.

Jagmanv12

1,573 posts

193 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
clarkey328is said:
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky
Over Kingston bridge, A310,A313,A312 to Hatton Cross, straight across into the airport, round the perimeter road and through the tunnel.

I'd reckon 20-25 minutes.

clarkey328is

2,220 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
Olf said:
clarkey328is said:
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky
Unless you're unable to operate a map you won't have to go anywhere near the M4.
The sat nav took me across Hammersmith bridge last time, and I went on the Great South road. Since I wan't completely sure exactly which roads are closed I thought I would check.
Thanks anyway wink

clarkey328is

2,220 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
Jagmanv12 said:
Over Kingston bridge, A310,A313,A312 to Hatton Cross, straight across into the airport, round the perimeter road and through the tunnel.

I'd reckon 20-25 minutes.
Cheers buddy, I'll let everyone know how it goes later on in case anybody should want to do a similar route.

Olf

11,978 posts

247 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
clarkey328is said:
Olf said:
clarkey328is said:
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky
Unless you're unable to operate a map you won't have to go anywhere near the M4.
The sat nav took me across Hammersmith bridge last time, and I went on the Great South road. Since I wan't completely sure exactly which roads are closed I thought I would check.
Thanks anyway wink
your sat-nav took you over hammersmith bridge to get from Kingston to Heathrow? TomTom's had too much mulled wine mate.

clarkey328is

2,220 posts

203 months

Saturday 24th December 2011
quotequote all
Olf said:
our sat-nav took you over hammersmith bridge to get from Kingston to Heathrow? TomTom's had too much mulled wine mate.
Yeah I thought that, but it wouldn't budge no matter what options I selected. It's not a trip I do often and the road signs around London aren't the best in the world, so I blindly followed it!

onyx39

11,349 posts

179 months

Friday 30th December 2011
quotequote all
clarkey328is said:
Olf said:
clarkey328is said:
Yeah I have to go to Heathrow today from Kingston.
I'm thinking the shortest route will be the best, any ideas?
Linky
Unless you're unable to operate a map you won't have to go anywhere near the M4.
The sat nav took me across Hammersmith bridge last time
yikes

nick_968

560 posts

267 months

Friday 30th December 2011
quotequote all
clarkey328is said:
Cheers buddy, I'll let everyone know how it goes later on in case anybody should want to do a similar route.
I did it every day for 2 years for work, the route you describe is painfully slow, too many traffic lights and 30 most of the way. You are doing well if you can do it in 40 minutes, its at least an hour during rush hour. The hammersmith bridge route is not as bad as it sounds depending on which side of Kingston you live. There is only a couple of minutes in it during off peak times but is definitely not a route for rush hour. A3/M25/A30 or M4 not a bad route either depending on which terminal. All said and done considering its not that far there are no great routes to Heathrow from Kingston!

BrightYellowTVR

1,258 posts

296 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all

Had this email from TRL today...

I am writing to let you know that the Hammersmith flyover remains closed in both directions for urgent structural repairs. The damage has been caused by water leaking into the structure, including salt water due to de‑icing salt laid during the winter months, which has corroded and weakened the cables that help support the flyover.

Safety is our top priority and we are working flat out, including inside the structure, to assess the damage and put in place a solution that will enable us to open the flyover as soon as possible and to identify the best long‑term solution.

Local traffic diversions are currently in place, along with Variable Messaging Signs and traffic signal plans are being developed to reduce disruption and ease traffic flow however if you drive in London, you are strongly advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes.
We are working hard to complete the essential repairs. For live traffic news and advice please visit tfl.gov.uk/roadusers

SVTRick

Original Poster:

3,633 posts

224 months

Saturday 31st December 2011
quotequote all
Yeah I got that as well....
Like it a happend just after a bit of rain & salt ingress


Ball locks its been rotting for years.
TFL Epic Fail