Forum Topic

Complete gridlock again tonight on Chiswick High Road

A small family outing this evening turned into an absolute nightmare after catching the E3 bus from the Avenue in order to get down to Chiswick train station.Once we turned onto the High Road the traffic was at an absolute standstill, with my City Mapper app giving an estimated journey time of an hour and a half... After half an hour, we abandoned the bus, as did everyone else, and were then forced to walk in the pouring rain for over half an hour to make our destination, with two young children. Of course half the road is now taken up by a cycle lane which was all but completely empty, bar maybe half a dozen cyclists the whole time we were sat on the stationary bus.This whole situation is absolutely disgusting - when the hell is something going to be done about it? Ridiculous bus gates and bollards everywhere, that serve absolutely no purpose other than to cause delays and frustration at a time when everyone wants to have their lives made easier, not harder. A simple evening out ruined, for what?

Mark Edwards ● 2197d51 Comments

There won't be many cyclists using the cycle lane as they're still working on it and it isn't properly open yet.  Traffic not helped right now by the new road closure for repairs in front of Chiswick Park Station, so nobody can get anywhere at the moment.

Peter Evans ● 2197d

This is a prime example of what will happen all over the place regularly. Now all the cut through roads have been blocked off and people are forced onto the main roads, as soon as something happens on these it is total gridlock

Alina Dansord ● 2197d

'as soon as something happens on these it is total gridlock''twas ever thus. Especially, it seems, when Thames Water has a serious problem, as it does at the moment.

Ken Munn ● 2197d

'Something' happens almost every day, if not a burst water main, an accident - even on the M4 as well as locally - and there is no provision for this.  So sad to see people really not knowing how to get home once Acton Lane was out of action, along with the existing road closures of TGT and Fisher's Lane.  This scheme is doomed to fail, and the sooner you recognise that, the better for everyone.

Claire Moran ● 2197d

New slogan released tomorrow....Hands > Face > Space > Enjoy the traffic.The real test will come when the flower market returns.

Nicholas James ● 2197d

Yes it is all a nightmare for people with young families who don't drive or cycle. Ealing Council had traffic data devices across Fishers Lane and South Parade last week which was not a typical week as local private schools on holiday. Would be good to know what they will be concluding from the data.

Jane Kirby ● 2197d

Except it 'twasn't. If Acton Lane was closed, folks could use TGT or Fisher's Lane. Or get this - both.Why flow is the enemy I'll never know.

David Lesniak ● 2197d

I have emailed the following to Mark Frost, Hanif Khan and Grant Shapps. Anyone else I should be contacting?Gridlocked Chiswick - Increased Pollution - Lives and Livelihoods at riskDear Sirs,I am sure you all now be aware of the gridlock that is now taking place in Chiswick as a result of the new road layouts/traffic measures/cycle lanes. So much for less pollution and calmer safer streets. This is an intolerable situation. No doubt you will blame this on the burst water main which forced the closure of Acton Lane and the bad weather!  Nonsense! The only thing to blame is the ill-conceived changes that have been made to the area.  We can now clearly see that all it will take in future, is one small incident such as an accident, broken down vehicle, a bit of rain or some roadworks to bring the area to a grinding halt. Additionally, yesterday’s bad weather resulted in all the cycle lanes becoming lakes and therefore dangerous  and  impassable. Any cyclists who were out were using pavements or the car lanes. The new bustop islands were inaccesible and even if they were accessible people risked getting very wet from vehicle spray and lack of shelter. The damage to local shops and businesses is immeasurable. This will happen in South Chiswick too once all the new ‘experimental’ measures are in place.  A minor incident (breakdown/ accident /roadworks) onthe A316, or A4 or South circular will cause major traffic gridlocks, increased journey times and pollution and put lives at risk as police and emergency services will be stuck to.  Traffic will naturally try to find alternatives but these have all been blocked. It’s time for the council to admit it has made a huge mistake and start working on removing and reversing these schemes. I have one question in particular that I would appreciate a response too and that is, what contingency funds have been kept in place (from the government grants to implement these changes) in order to be able to reverse the schemes if necessary?  This clearly the case in Chiswick.

Krysia Gdaniec ● 2197d

A few more addresses etc for you -Cllr Guy Lambert, Hounslow cabinet member for highways: guy.lambert@hounslow.gov.ukCllr Katherine Dunne, Hounslow cabinet member for communities and climate katherine.dunne@hounslow.gov.ukHounslow’s traffic department (from which you should get a reply): traffic@hounslow.gov.ukCllr Julian Bell, Ealing council leader also responsible for economic development and regeneration: julian.bell@ealing.gov.ukCllr Mik Sabiers, Ealing cabinet member responsible for environment, roads, traffic, congestion, parking: mik.sabiers@ealing.gov.ukConsultationsHounslow streetspace feedback: https://haveyoursay.hounslow.gov.uk/traffic-and-transport/streetspace-feedback/Hounslow consultation on the future of Chiswick town centre: https://chiswicktowncentre.commonplace.is TfL on C9: TfL wants to know: Has the scheme impacted you or your business positively or negatively? Has the scheme resulted in what you expected? Are there any unexpected outcomes which you think we should know about (this could be things like access to deliveries or more people visiting on foot or by bicycle than usual)?  Please also add your own comments beyond these three points.  Email your views to: streetspacelondon@tfl.gov.uk

Mark Perry ● 2197d

Putting aside the rights and wrongs of the road closures for now the theory behind them is that more trafficked roads act as distributor roads for the displaced vehicles. There therefore has to be a contingency plan should one of the distributor roads be blocked to avoid problems like the ones we are having at the moment. In the case of a closure on Acton Lane, the Turnham Green Terrace and Fishers Lane should be automatically be suspended with Hounslow and Ealing issuing a joint statement giving notification of precisely when the suspension is taking place. There is also a significant question that needs to be asked about why this closure was not publicised. There may be a good reason for this as it was an emergency that took place at the weekend and, I think the works are actually in Ealing, so Hounslow Council may not have received any notification. That does suggest contingency planning needs to be done to stop this happening in future. A virtually zero cost and very effective way of reducing traffic and pollution would be to better publicise closures that are likely to cause problems. Chiswick is blessed in having widely read local news media through which this can be done. I got caught out in the traffic yesterday but wouldn't have done if the notice of the works had been on this site before I set out. A significant reduction in the chaos could have been achieved by the simple expedient of telling people about the closure.

Andrew OSullivan ● 2197d

I was caught in the gridlock last night - the situation was not helped by the fact that the 3-way temporary traffic lights at just before the Duke Road junction seemed to have malfunctioned and were all stuck on red in all directions including for pedestrians . When drivers going west realised this many of them just jumped the lights and took a cheeky (but necessary) left turn down Duke Road.Would be helpful to have a number to call to alert someone to broken lights?

Birna Helgadottir ● 2197d

Hi KrysiaYes email Sadiq Khan:-mayor@london.gov.uk

Loraine Pemberton ● 2197d

I'm not a driver, and I have in the past taken the mickey out of some people's obsession with traffic on this site, but the High Road is beyond a joke these days.I saw cyclists ignoring the new designated lane and obstructing cars and buses instead.Also, it is now quicker for me to walk from Grove Park to King Street than getting a bus, but this is probably a good thing for my physique.

Mike Firth ● 2197d

There is no obligation for cyclists to use the cycleway and they will still need to join general traffic from time to time particularly if they are travelling south to north.Whether the cycleway is responsible for the delays won't become clear until Acton Lane reopens but it should be concerning that this sort of snafu is happening when we are in partial lockdown and the schools are on holiday.

Paul Corcoran ● 2197d

Last time I looked (Friday), the cycleway was not actually open - still obstructed in several places by roadworks, contractors etc.

Ken Munn ● 2197d

Had the CHR experience yesterday morning.11.30. Could not believe the shambolic design! It took 40mins because I followed 4 buses. The bus stops are in the middle of the road! No overtaking. How do the emergency services deal with this? Which moron designed this? Only 2 cyclists during the entire journey. Unbelievable! Reverse it now. Chiswick is becoming  a no go area.

Elizabeth Price ● 2196d

This is what happens when you vote a left-wing labour council to run things! Chaos, is what ensues. The new cycle lanes everywhere are mostly the old bus lanes absolutely ridiculous. I hope all these cyclists are forced by the law to be insured, pay road tax, and have their bikes licence plated.

c james ● 2196d

When will people understand there is no such thing as Road Tax?

Andrew Jones ● 2196d

This was an unholy storm of events: cycle way construction, closure of Acton Lane for Thames Water Repairs, temporary traffic lights at BOTH Dukes Road and Dukes Avenue junctions were broken (Dukes Avenue was permanently on red so may have actually helped the CHR traffic flow). CHR was a complete grid lockYet despite that TGT was a ghost town, no traffic at all (maybe they did not trust the diversion signs) and very few people about even when the rain stopped.

Justin Stephenson ● 2196d

What a shame the opportunity wasn't taken to create a public road through the Business Park to take some of the left/right turning CHR/Acton Lane traffic. Would also be an alternative route past the road works by Chiswick Park station.  Probably wouldn't get past the Society for the Abolition of Roads.

Peter Evans ● 2196d

My first experience of the lunacy that is CHR was about 2pm today. Drove out of Sainsbury's car park, turned right, then left onto CHR, then right into Heathfield Terrace, heading for SCR. This procedure normally takes about 3 minutes, depending on the traffic. Today it took about 20 minutes because the narrowed road and the sequencing of the lights simply created gridlock on CHR, with the accompanying increase in stationary traffic exhaust pollution. Is this really what LBH is aiming for?

Colin Jordan ● 2196d

Colin, you'll have to find a new route soon, because the right turn from CHR into Heathfield Terrace will be banned for motor vehicles when the cycleway comes into operation.  This is to enable eastbound cyclists on CHR to move across the junction to join the cycleway.

Richard Jennings ● 2196d

My god this gets more and more stupid - who on earth is going to realise how rediculous all this is - and the cost makes it even more unbelievably wasteful .

Helen Bamberger ● 2196d

The cycle lane outside Barclays bank needs resurfacing again. It is not flat and for two days lies a huge paddling pool. All it needs is a hurdle to jump over first. More Money,but hey,dont worry folks Hey, hope it does not snow hard during the night anytime soon, cars will be playing skittles with the wands.

Julian Pavey ● 2196d

Like everyone else I'm appalled at the mayhem in Chiswick High Road.  Traffic in an easterly direction is just one long jam about a quarter of a mile long, at all times of the day, and at weekends too. I walked the length of the jam to try to find the cause.  We all know about the extra traffic volume caused by the works near the tube station.  But the real problem now is the set of traffic lights at the TGT junction. They remain green for the High Road traffic for only 15 seconds.  That allows only 4 - 7 vehicles through at a time, less when a bus or lorry is involved.  And that is followed by a very, very long pause for Devonshire Road traffic(hardly any), TGT traffic (nil, when I was there) and pedestrians. Meantime the queue is being added too by more and more traffic coming down CHR.  These lights desperately need to be re-timed.

David Darlow ● 2195d

David, you assume the goal is to allow traffic to flow. I agree that the light phasing will help, but from my own stroll today I noticed many challenges. All the right turns from the eastbound lane cause delays and horn beeping. Buses pulling out from the stops by M&S can only do so when no westbound traffic. The carriageway is now too narrow to do this otherwise. A lorry legitimately unloading near Bills was also hard for buses to pass for the same reason, road too narrow. If you rely on buses add 15-20 mins to your normal journey time. Avoid the area.

Paul Green ● 2195d

I am stunned at the lack of forward thinking & planning who on earth thought it was safe to have buses stopping in the middle of the road, so sad how Chiswick is being ruined thank you to Ealing/Hounslow councils 👏👏👏👏 great job couldn’t make it up appalling design on the High Road,  no one can move, it’s unsafe for pedestrians, traders losing business if this is how Labour do things god help us, shocking.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2195d

When I went on my exploratory walk, I too got the impression that the eastbound hold up along CHR eased off significantly after the TGT traffic lights. The light phases certainly need to be changed to reflect that traffic is no longer using TGT, other than cycles and the occasional bus, while more traffic is obliged to use CHR.  Similarly, the mini-roundabout at the other end of TGT is redundant and should be removed, adding clearer road markings to show the intended traffic flows into and out of Bath Road.  If we can see all these thing, why can't the experts who installed the scheme - unless for some reason they don't want to.

Peter Evans ● 2195d

I witnessed an elderly gentleman with a walking frame trying to cross the cycle lane to get to the bus stop ‘island’ . It took him awhile and then he had to stand waiting for a bus. As least the previous stop had seats and of course being on a pavement was I’m sure a lot safer.

Judi Roche ● 2195d

The traffic lights are being installed for the new pointless bus gate on the High Road before Acton Lane. This junction worked well before no issues for buses. The left turn lane has shrunk by two thirds, and the green time for the bus gate will further reduce capacity and increase queues and congestion for eastbound traffic. This underlines that the whole point is to throttle back traffic from entering the central stretch of High Road. Congestion, queues and pollution for residents at either end of the High Road or those needing to use the road are to be sacrificed for the superhighway. I cant see myself bothering with the High Road much in future. Hounslow are doing their best to kill it.

Paul Green ● 2195d

Paul they have already killed it, shocking now all traffic being diverted via Goldhawk Road amazing all Chiswick traffic being funnelled in one direction so residents have to spend 30 mins to get home instead of 5 mins well done Hounslow you should be ashamed of these changes, utter madness. Dreadful that elderly, disabled people have to cross a cycle lane to stand on an island in the middle of the road 😱😱 crazy an accident waiting to happen.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2195d

"Anyone else I should be contacting?"You should also contact your MP

Steve Taylor ● 2195d

Remember its only a couple of weeks ago that Cllr Lambert posted pictures of quiet roads to dispel the 'myth' that Chiswick had been cut in half. I suggest everyone gets on Twitter and sends him photos of the current chaos.

Paul Green ● 2195d

How are people in wheelchairs supposed to get on and off the buses at the High Road stops. The new bus stop islands dont look wide enough to accomodate the ramps that extend out of the buses plus wheelchairs centred to go up them. Once off the bus how do they.navigate the cycleway?

Jane Kirby ● 2195d

Now that is a issue ive never thought about and needs looking at

Julian Pavey ● 2195d

According to Tfl's pledge there are five requirements LTN measures must address:Safety - road safety and pedestrian overcrowding in the area.Congestion - traffic including the bus network.Equality - people protected under the Equality Act 2010.Opportunity - the number of cyclists and pedestrians who use it.Locality - the look and feel of the local area.It rather looks as if items no. 1 2 and 3 will be fails as things stand and I'm not too sure about nos. 4 and 5.

Bruce Hammal ● 2195d

Just makes me wonder even more how thorough were the risk assessments and who approved them.Have the Belisha beacons been erected yet as I don't think the crossings are legal without them?

Bob Guyett ● 2195d

I had a look at the Health & Safety Executive website. They don't cover concerns about roads, highways and pavements. People are advised to contact their local authority's Highways Department.Kafka is alive and well and living in Chiswick.

Bruce Hammal ● 2195d

'Once off the bus how do wheelchairs navigate the cycleway?'The cycle track is raised to the level of the kerbs where it passes behind the bus island and there's a mini-zebra crossing over it.

Peter Evans ● 2195d

I wish he were. He would  be on our side against the failing, deaf, unresponsive local political parties

Claire Moran ● 2195d

I know the cycle lanes are not open yet but from what I have seen so far the camber of the road means that they are either full of very slippery leaves or huge puddles. I think this will force most cyclists to continue using the road.What are the legalities of consulting on one cycle lane scheme but then installing a completely different one?

Chris Blackwell ● 2195d

"If we can see all these thing, why can't the experts who installed the scheme - unless for some reason they don't want to"1. No experts. Just inexperienced sycophants.2. No engagement with businesses. Case in point: the new loading bay by the funeral home is too short for just about any delivery lorry servicing businesses in that area. The front of the lorry juts out just as the westbound lane starts to narrow so passing in a vehicle let alone a bus while delivery takes place is impossible.3. Complete and utter dismissal of anyone with a question or criticism no matter how well founded.

David Lesniak ● 2195d

3 min diversion to Goldhawk Rd, yeah right took me 20 mins then had to double back on my self to get home  Ridiculous 

Chris Johnson ● 2194d

I gather from another post that Acton Lane is now going to be closed until the 3rd November?I returned to Chiswick with my children this evening, and was diverted all the way down the High Street to Goldhawk Road in order to return to our home in Bedford Park. This added an extra half hour to our journey. I would like to argue that living just the other side of Fishers Lane would count as access, but this is of course not the case.What else can we do to get these crazy diversions/closures overturned, and why can't we use TGT for access if we live just the other side of it, whilst these works are going on?

Mark Edwards ● 2194d

A vote of no confidance in the council and possibly certain names Il think about it 🤔

Julian Pavey ● 2194d

Bearing in mind how long it takes to go all the way round by the Goldhawk Road, it might be quicker to go into TGT, pull in to get bag of potatoes ('Access'?) or look in a shop window and decide not to buy a house, and then drive out the other end.

Peter Evans ● 2194d

" decide not to buy a house, and then drive out the other end."Precisely. This Labour administration with it's dim-witted Cllrs has ruined Chiswick.

Steve Taylor ● 2194d

Not sure its fair to call all the Chiswick Councillors dim witted -

John Stroud ● 2194d

He didn't - the opposite "This LABOUR administration with it's dim-witted Cllrs has ruined Chiswick."

Jennifer Selig ● 2194d

Chiswick High Road has become extremely difficult especially in view of the Thames Water problem in Acton Lane.  So the only way to travel round is either use Bath Road or the North Circular.    I cannot see how this can help the Shop Owners, as people will just go elsewhere possibly Kew Retail for an M & S.  How sad that in these difficult times even more difficulties are presented.    Whether you are a car driver or not everyone should be catered for when going about their daily routine.

Janice White ● 2194d

Janice, even when Acton Lane reopens, the plan is to limit as much as possible non-bus traffic along the High Road. It is the only way to prevent gridlock along the High Road. The new bus gate at the west end and signals at the east end will hold back traffic, creating huge queues and pollution. This will make it hard to access Acton Lane and also add to queues around Turnham Green. The High Road is becoming a very hostile place for vehicles, and pedestrians I might add.Never believe for one moment that TFL or Hounslow want to reduce congestion or pollution. They are stacking the cards. They do not monitor congestion or air quality at the spots they are creating queues. They will pretend all is fine. It will be lies.

Paul Green ● 2194d