Four months of major roadworks were supposed to begin at the Bow Roundabout on Monday. So how's that going?
Monday 30th September
No roadworks have begun.
Tuesday 1st October
Still bugger all.
I popped up to Old Ford to see what's happened with route 8 terminating one stop early. A temporary stand has been created at the Fish Island bus stop on Wick Lane, where I found three parked buses and another just arriving. Normally they'd have continued to Bow Garage and its proper layover facilities but drivers have no such luck until February. The Fish Island bus stop is closed, suggesting route 339 hasn't been able to stop here since 6th September. As yet absolutely none of this is necessary because the roadworks haven't started.
Wednesday 2nd October
32 temporary traffic lights have arrived. Half of them are in place and the other half remain plonked in the centre of the roundabout. All are covered with orange hoods, i.e. not yet operational. It looks like an electric forest.
The westbound Bow Flyover bus stop now has a yellow hood because it's officially closed. There is no reason for it to be closed because traffic is still passing unimpeded but they've closed it anyway. A poster says "Buses are not stopping here due to Urban Realm Work going on this Bus Stop", whatever that means. It's due to reopen at 6pm on Friday 29th November.
Thursday 3rd October (11am)
All 32 temporary traffic lights are now in place. None are in use. A contractors' enclosure has been created under the western arm of the flyover. Thus far it mostly contains plastic barriers and a portakabin. The contractor is Tarmac Kier JV. The highway upgrade is titled 'Bow Road Roundabout Phase One'. The end date is given as 16th January 2025.
Thursday 3rd October (11pm)
Ooh, workmen have laid out cones blocking one lane on every approach to the roundabout. Ah, this is because they're setting up the temporary traffic lights. A hardhatted bunch are tweaking a control box under the flyover to make sure the connections are set up properly. At this time of night no traffic is being slowed or disrupted.
Friday 4th October
Ah, they've removed all the cones and traffic is flowing freely again. All the temporary traffic lights are now connected by yellow wires at height. None are in use. No roadworks have begun. All the bus mitigation thus far has been pointless.
Bus mitigation that's thus far been pointless
• Reducing the frequency of route 25 (5 weeks)
• Reducing the frequency of route 205 (5 weeks)
• Reducing the frequency of route 276 (5 weeks)
• Reducing the frequency of route 277 (5 weeks)
• Reducing the frequency of route 425 (5 weeks)
• Curtailing services on route 8 to Old Ford (4 weeks)
• Closing Bus Stop OT (Fish Island) on route 339 (4 weeks?)
• Closing Bus Stop P (Bow Flyover) on routes 25, 108, 276, 425 and D8 (5 days)
And these are TfL-organised roadworks so they really ought to know what's going on.
