Drivers from Harrow heading into central London are being warned of major disruption after Transport for London announced a long closure of part of the A40.
Transport for London (TfL) says the A40 Westway will close in both directions between the Westway roundabout and the Marylebone flyover from 22:00 on Friday 20 March until late April while essential safety and maintenance work takes place.
The closure affects a key route used by many drivers travelling from Harrow and north-west London into the centre of the capital. Motorists often join the A40 via Western Avenue near Northolt or Perivale before continuing towards Paddington and Marylebone.
With the Westway section closed, drivers making that journey are likely to face longer routes and heavier traffic on surrounding roads.
TfL says the work is needed to replace structural joints on the flyover that allow the structure to expand and contract safely.
The A40 Westway is one of the busiest roads in London and is used by up to 96,000 vehicles every day.
TfL said the carriageway must be fully closed while the work is carried out.
Stuart Harvey, TfL’s Chief Capital Officer, said: “It’s vital that we ensure the A40 flyover is well maintained for the tens of thousands of people who use it each day. This essential work will allow the flyover to continue to be used safely. We appreciate that, though necessary, these works will cause disruption to journeys, and I’d like to thank people in the area for their patience. I’d encourage everyone to plan ahead and use alternative modes of transport where possible.”
TfL says diversion routes and nearby local roads are expected to become very busy during the closure.
For Harrow residents who normally drive into central London via the A40, journeys towards areas such as Paddington, Marylebone and the West End are likely to take longer, with traffic expected to spread onto surrounding routes across west London.
Some bus routes in west London will also see temporary changes to their routes or schedules to maintain reliability.
TfL is advising drivers to plan journeys in advance and consider alternatives such as the Tube, cycling or walking for shorter trips.
After the main closure ends, TfL says there will also be weekend westbound closures near the Westway roundabout while further work is completed.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
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