Details of works, temporary traffic restrictions and bus route diversions

Following extensive consultation and final approval by the Chiswick Area Committee earlier this year, a number of changes to the road network and bus services around Turnham Green will take place over the coming months.

The Turnham Green traffic and transport scheme is designed to provide faster journeys for bus passengers by rerouting some services away from Sutton Lane North.

At present, five bus routes use this road, with up to 38 buses per hour queuing to turn into Chiswick High Road, delaying hundreds of passengers by up to five minutes. The scheme will address this problem by changing several bus routes and improving the road network to accommodate these changes.

The scheme will also provide improved crossing facilities for pedestrians, across Chiswick High Road, Sutton Lane North and Sutton Court Road, together with footway improvements at a number of locations around the Green.

Phase 1: Realignment of Heathfield Terrace near the Town Hall

Phase 1 of the scheme, the realignment of Heathfield Terrace near the Town Hall to accommodate the new route of the northbound E3 buses and installation of a new zebra crossing across Sutton Court Road, commenced on 2 November for completion by mid February. Work will be suspended between mid-December and early January to avoid disruption to local residents during the Christmas period. Upon completion of these works, northbound route E3 buses on Sutton Court Road will turn right instead of left into Heathfield Terrace and will no longer use Sutton Lane North.

The programme of works at this site is:

Stage 1 – Remove the existing refuge island on Sutton Court Road.
Stage 2 – Improve the footway on the western side of Sutton Court Road.
Stage 3 – Improve the footway on the eastern side of Sutton Court Road.
Stage 4 – Construct a new pedestrian refuge island on Sutton Court Road for the zebra crossing.
Stage 5 – Widen the carriageway on the northern side of Heathfield Terrace opposite the Town Hall.
Stage 6 – After Christmas, widen the southern side of Heathfield Terrace in front of the Town Hall.
Stage 7 – Improve the Town Hall forecourt.
Stage 8 – Resurface one side of Heathfield Terrace in the vicinity of the works, commencing at the end of January.
Stage 9 – Resurface the other side of Heathfield Terrace, in early February.

Temporary traffic restrictions and bus route diversions:

In order to facilitate these works, a no right turn restriction will be in force on Town Hall Avenue from 9.30am Monday 16 November until 5pm Friday 18 December. Traffic heading south on Town Hall Avenue will not be able to turn right into Heathfield Terrace near the Town Hall.

During this time, bus routes 272 towards Grove Park, E3 towards Edensor Road and H91 towards Hounslow West will turn left from Chiswick High Road into Heathfield Terrace and will call at the stop near the Post Office (stop Z1). They will not call at the stop opposite Essex Place Square / Sainsbury (stop UU) and will not run via Town Hall Avenue.

Route 440 to Stonebridge Park will turn right from Chiswick High Road into Belmont Road and will not run via Town Hall Avenue and Sutton Lane North. Passengers should catch route 440 at its terminus (stop TT) on Chiswick High Road, or at the Chiswick medical centre.

Phase 2: Improvements to the junction of Sutton Lane North and Arlington Gardens

Phase 2, improvements to the junction of Sutton Lane North and Arlington Gardens, commenced on 9 November and will be completed by Christmas.

The programme of works at this site is:

Stage 1 – Construct the dropped crossing on the Turnham Green side of Sutton Lane North.
Stage 2 – Construct the pedestrian refuge island on Sutton Lane North.
Stage 3 – Construct the raised entry treatment across the eastern end of Arlington Gardens.
Stage 4 – Install new linemarking and signage.

Temporary road closure:

In order to undertake Stage 3 as described above, Arlington Gardens will be closed to all traffic at its eastern end (junction of Sutton Lane North) from 7am Monday 16 November until 6pm Saturday 28 November, or for such longer period as may be required if any complications are encountered in completing this part of the scheme.

Letters have been delivered to households on Sutton Lane North and Arlington Gardens alerting residents to this temporary road closure.

Arlington Gardens residents will have vehicular access via Marlborough Road during this period and pedestrian access will be maintained at the Sutton Lane North end.

Phase 3: Improvements on Chiswick High Road

Phase 3, a series of improvements on Chiswick High Road on the north side of Turnham Green, will commence in January and is scheduled to be completed by early April. These works will achieve smoother traffic flows while providing additional crossing points across this busy road. Details will be available closer to the start date.

Bus Route Changes

The changes to bus routes are:

• From early January, route H91 will be converted to double-decker buses and will run via Chiswick High Road instead of Wellesley Road and another single-decker service will take its place on Wellesley Road.
• From mid February, northbound route E3 buses on Sutton Court Road will turn right instead of left into Heathfield Terrace and will no longer use Sutton Lane North – this will improve journey times from Grove Park to Chiswick Town Centre and Turnham Green tube station.
Plans are also being made to extend route 27 to Chiswick Business Park via Chiswick High Road, and we hope to be able to announce the start date for this soon.

Once all these changes take place, Sutton Lane North will have just two bus routes, with a total of eight buses per hour.

Further Information

If you require further information about the scheme, email transportplanning@hounslow.gov.uk.

If you have any concerns regarding the actual work taking place near your property, contact the Resident Engineer, Mr Munawar Ahmed, at munawar.ahmed@hounslow.gov.uk or telephone 020 8583 5114.

November 14, 2009