The switch over to two way traffic through Stratford town centre will be completed next week as Great Eastern Road and The Grove opens up to traffic in both directions.
From Monday 22 October, the whole of the Stratford Gyratory will have traffic going in both directions. The Broadway, High Street to Romford Road, changed in September.
The transformation of Stratford town centre has been carried out by Newham Council in partnership with Transport for London following consultation with residents and local businesses.
As before, new road crossings and signals are in place for both pedestrians and cyclists, in places where people have indicated they would prefer to cross.
Work started in September last year and the whole project is expected to be completed by Spring 2019. The work has been carried out in stages so the town centre can be accessed at all times.
Businesses are all open as usual even though some have fencing outside their premises. Signs are in place to guide pedestrians around the ongoing works.
Contractor JB Riney has been managing the works by liaising closely with residents and businesses. Their public liaison officer visits businesses weekly to check whether they have any issues and resolving them wherever possible.
Cyclists and pedestrians are advised to be aware of each other whilst sharing the same footway. Pedestrians should look both ways at all crossings and when cutting across a cycle lane to watch out for people on bikes.
Vehicles must use the access from The Grove to enter and exit the Broadway between St. John’s Church and the shops.
Councillor Rachel Tripp, cabinet member for the environment and highways, said: “It is great to see the switch-over on the Stratford gyratory finally complete. There is still some work left to do but residents and visitors should see a huge difference to the town centre which is now easier to navigate and more attractive. If you are walking or cycling around Stratford, please remember to keep an eye out for other pedestrians and people on bikes, especially on the shared spaces where people can walk and cycle.
“We will carry on our work with local businesses in the area, to make sure that they can continue to benefit from the huge investment here. Ultimately this change will benefit all of us by encouraging more people to visit, slower vehicle speeds, and making the town centre safer for everyone which is our biggest priority.”
Sam Monck, TfL’s Head of Network Sponsorship, said: “Reducing danger to the most vulnerable road users is our top priority and the transformation of Stratford Town Centre is an important step towards the Mayor’s ambition for Vision Zero for no one to be killed or seriously injured on London’s streets.
“Moving to two way traffic will also make the area much more pleasant for everyone who lives and works in Stratford, as well as ensuring that the area remains an important and vibrant destination for visitors from across the capital and the world. We will continue to work closely with Newham Council to transform local areas and create Healthy Streets that encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport.”