Transport bosses have promised a pro-active ‘Olympic-style’ public awareness campaign to keep the capital moving during a £4bn programme of road improvements.
The Mayor’s transport agency and London boroughs are overseeing hundreds of new roads schemes, including construction of the north-south and east-west cycle superhighways and a series of junction improvements.
Other projects include modernising traffic signals, installing new pedestrian countdown signs, upgrades to existing roads, bridges and tunnels and replacing more than 1,000 streets lights each year with energy efficient LEDs.
Transport for London says the work will future-proof the road network for the capital’s growing population and make it safer and more reliable for all road users.
Some of the projects will overlap and the scale of work will require motorists and other road users to change their journey habits to avoid getting caught up in delays.
Transport for London says it will help minimise disruption and delays by leafleting affected homes and businesses and by providing detailed journey advice on its website and social media channels and road-side signs.
This will replicate the agency’s efforts during the Olympics when roads were closed to non-Games traffic.
Leon Daniels, Transport for London’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, said: “Our £4bn Road Modernisation Plan is creating a greener, safer and more attractive London, including a radical improvement in conditions for cyclists.
“However, just like with the recent upgrades on the Underground, Londoners will find that there are more modernisation projects underway that affect their journeys. Just as we did during the London 2012 Games, we’re utilising the latest technology to manage the road network and limit disruption.
“We’re also working with businesses to re-time deliveries outside of peak times and are providing a huge range of detailed travel information, advice and tools so that, wherever possible, road users can plan ahead and avoid hotspots.”