Chislehurst Road Bridge re-build
Chislehurst Road Bridge is now closed. It is expected to be closed for a year while it is rebuilt.
The bridge is located on the A208 Orpington Road / Chislehurst Road next to the ancient woodland of Petts Wood and Hawkwood estate, an area of National Trust owned land.
How will motorists be affected?
Diversion route
The A208 will be closed to all through traffic, including motorcycles, between the junction of Leesons Hill and Poverest Road for the duration of the project. There will be a diversion route in place, during the reconstruction of the bridge. This will take drivers along Leesons Hill, Cray Avenue and Poverest Road or Poverest Road , Cray Avenue and Leesons Hill in the opposite direction - the same route currently used by buses and HGVs due to the bridge's present 7.5 ton weight limit.
Signage will be in place to encourage motorists to use alternative routes to avoid travelling through the area when possible. Advanced warning signs will be placed on the approaches and on the bridge in the month before the closure. These will remain in place for the duration of the works. Temporary variable message boards (electronic signs) will also be installed on the bridge two weeks before the closure and for two weeks after the closure. Diversion signs will also be used to direct motorists around the diversion. These will remain in place for the duration of the works.
Traffic management
To relieve likely congestion in the area, a series of traffic counts and surveys were carried out to forecast traffic flow and predict the impact of changes to routes. Using this information, we have identified the most effective traffic measures. The biggest delay on the diversion route will be on the junction between Sevenoaks Way , Leesons Hill and Station Road.
The traffic management measures will be introduced on 1 November. This is to give motorists a week to get used to the measures, ahead of the bridge closure the following week.
- The northbound bus lane on Cray Avenue will be suspended at all times, between the junction with Poverest Road and Leesons Hill, allowing all traffic to use both lanes. Please note there is no southbound bus lane.
- Bus services will be subject to potential delays. Please check TfL live travel news for more information about your route.
- There will be a ban on right hand turns from Sevenoaks Way into Leesons Hill and from Cray Avenue into Station Road . This will allow more traffic to flow through the area.
- New parking restrictions in Leesons Hill, at the Cray Avenue junction, are also planned. Vehicles parked in certain places along Leesons Hill lead to delays. These restrictions will help maintain the flow of traffic by deterring motorists from parking in the narrower stretches of road whilst allowing parking where it is safe to do so.
How will pedestrians and cyclists be affected?
Vehicle access will be maintained for residents on each side of the bridge and pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to use the bridge throughout.
How will local residents be affected?
We are in contact with residents who live close to the bridge, to let them know of plans and the timeline of the reconstruction. The contractor has met with local groups, to give them the opportunity to ask questions and information leaflets have been distributed locally. We will be keeping residents up to date throughout the reconstruction of the bridge.
Keep up to date
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