One by one, drivers on Ridout Street were turning around when they realized they couldn’t cross the Victoria Bridge.
On Monday, construction began on the 96-year-old bridge that closes the street, catching motorists off guard.
“It’s a bit frustrating to drive on the roads, because there are so many road closures, you have to go around and go around,” said one man making a three-point turn.
Taxi driver Hassan Chouman turned up at Thames Park to drop off a fare, which he was trying to get to court.
“I just left the lady here because she still has to go to court and she’s late,” says Chouman.
He added: “I went through three roads that were closed and she was already late. She got mad and I have to leave her here and she [walked] like the rest of the way. I just got another call that I can’t even answer because I don’t know which roads are open and which are closed.”
The City of London has installed a pedestrian and cycle bridge from Horton Street to Thames Park to help people cross the river. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) The city says the bridge will be replaced by a new “arch-through” structure that includes an expanded deck area to better accommodate bicycle, pedestrian traffic and improved connectivity to the Thames Valley Parkway.
A few feet from the Ridout Street Bridge, Jessica Boudreault watched as frustrated drivers turned around in front of her home. As an Uber driver, she uses the bridge as her way into central London.
“I just moved here not too long ago and if I had known there would have been construction, I might not have moved here,” says Boudreault.
She added: “It’s a bit of a bummer for me. I loved that Thames Park was here, and I liked that there were tennis courts too. But now that they’ve been torn up for construction vehicles, we’ll have to ‘wait until next year to use them.’
For the duration of the closure, there will be a signposted diversion for motorists along Commissioners Road, Wellington Road, Wharncliffe Road and Horton Street.
Several LTC routes are affected by this closure and will be diverted via Grand Avenue, Carfrae Crescent and Richmond Street for the duration of the project.
A temporary bridge has been installed a few meters away for cyclists and pedestrians to cross the River Thames.
“As a pedestrian, at least you have an option there, but it’s going to be pretty congested,” said Andrew Bell, a passer-by who often crosses the bridge. “There are a lot of these detour routes that are going to be a bit busy with bikes, walkers and cars, so we’ll see how that goes.”
Sunningdale Road West is closed until 12 August 2022 as private works begin on a new subdivision. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
The closure of Ridout Street is one of the many headaches facing the city.
In the north end of the city, another major project started on Sunningdale Road West.
Private works are taking place on a new subdivision next to Sunningdale Golf Course, which will close the road between Wonderland Road and Richmond Street until August 12.
During this time, eastbound traffic will be detoured along Wonderland Road and Fanshawe Park Road. Westbound traffic will be detoured around the closure via Richmond Street and Fanshawe Park Road.
The city says motorists are advised to expect delays and are encouraged to visit the city’s Renew London website to check if their commute will be affected.