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London 2012 Games Lanes: Traffic delays of two hours | London 2012 Games Lanes: Traffic delays of two hours |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Drivers coming into London have faced delays of up to two hours after lanes were shut in the run-up to the Olympics. | Drivers coming into London have faced delays of up to two hours after lanes were shut in the run-up to the Olympics. |
Lanes were closed to traffic on the A12, A13 and A40. | Lanes were closed to traffic on the A12, A13 and A40. |
By 11:50 BST the situation on the three roads had improved, although there was still heavy traffic on the A13 and A40, with congestion on approach roads. | By 11:50 BST the situation on the three roads had improved, although there was still heavy traffic on the A13 and A40, with congestion on approach roads. |
Transport for London had warned journeys on the roads may take "considerably longer than usual". | Transport for London had warned journeys on the roads may take "considerably longer than usual". |
A TfL spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the lanes had been closed as part of the preparation for the enforcing of the full Olympic Route Network on Wednesday. | A TfL spokesman confirmed to the BBC that the lanes had been closed as part of the preparation for the enforcing of the full Olympic Route Network on Wednesday. |
One motorist who called BBC London from the A13 said his normal hour-long drive from Swanley to Redbridge had already taken far longer than normal and he expected it to take about two and a half hours. | One motorist who called BBC London from the A13 said his normal hour-long drive from Swanley to Redbridge had already taken far longer than normal and he expected it to take about two and a half hours. |
By noon the A12 was running smoothly again, however there continued to be long delays on the A13 westbound. The A40 eastbound was moving very slowly from Greenford. | By noon the A12 was running smoothly again, however there continued to be long delays on the A13 westbound. The A40 eastbound was moving very slowly from Greenford. |
There was also particularly heavy traffic on local roads in Canning Town and West Ham in east London. | There was also particularly heavy traffic on local roads in Canning Town and West Ham in east London. |
Congestion was also seen in central London, with delays in Whitehall, Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square. | Congestion was also seen in central London, with delays in Whitehall, Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square. |
The Mall is closed due to Olympic preparations and motorists told of delays in Greenwich. | The Mall is closed due to Olympic preparations and motorists told of delays in Greenwich. |
And there will be additional road closures across London as the Olympic Torch continues its procession, with Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth to be visited. | And there will be additional road closures across London as the Olympic Torch continues its procession, with Croydon, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth to be visited. |
Dozens of motorists vented frustration at the delays on Twitter. | Dozens of motorists vented frustration at the delays on Twitter. |
This felt like the day when the Olympic reality hit home for the capital's motorists. | This felt like the day when the Olympic reality hit home for the capital's motorists. |
For over a week Transport for London has been tinkering and re-phasing traffic lights. | For over a week Transport for London has been tinkering and re-phasing traffic lights. |
That's meant there have been queues where you don't normally get them. | That's meant there have been queues where you don't normally get them. |
This morning a number of lanes were taken out on the A40 near Wembley and the A12 and A13 near the Olympic Park. | This morning a number of lanes were taken out on the A40 near Wembley and the A12 and A13 near the Olympic Park. |
It made the queues even worse - some drivers say their trips were double the usual length - with two hour journeys to get into London from Essex. | It made the queues even worse - some drivers say their trips were double the usual length - with two hour journeys to get into London from Essex. |
What TfL are trying to do is control the amount of traffic that gets onto the Olympic Route Network to - their words - "protect the venues". | What TfL are trying to do is control the amount of traffic that gets onto the Olympic Route Network to - their words - "protect the venues". |
What that does in reality is force traffic out of town. | What that does in reality is force traffic out of town. |
This wasn't a mistake, this wasn't a one-off and it wasn't a freak occurrence. This is part of the plan and it will only get worse when the other Games Lanes are activated on Wednesday. | This wasn't a mistake, this wasn't a one-off and it wasn't a freak occurrence. This is part of the plan and it will only get worse when the other Games Lanes are activated on Wednesday. |
TfL have been warning motorists to avoid central London, the Olympic Route Network and the roads around the venues. This morning it became clear why. | TfL have been warning motorists to avoid central London, the Olympic Route Network and the roads around the venues. This morning it became clear why. |
Chris Rowe tweeted: "Traffic on A12 and A13 unbelievable this morning." | Chris Rowe tweeted: "Traffic on A12 and A13 unbelievable this morning." |
Looking ahead to the full Olympic Route Network coming into force on Wednesday, Richard Cowley wrote: "Think this is rough - wait for the 25th." | Looking ahead to the full Olympic Route Network coming into force on Wednesday, Richard Cowley wrote: "Think this is rough - wait for the 25th." |
But there was a note of positivity - @ExposedUK tweeted: "Massive queue on the A40 this morning, but we're still excited." | |
There have been changes to 120 key junctions, with more than 1,000 sets of traffic lights rephased due to the Games. | There have been changes to 120 key junctions, with more than 1,000 sets of traffic lights rephased due to the Games. |
A fine of £130 will be issued to drivers who break the Games Lanes regulations, for instance by driving in them or stopping along the route. | A fine of £130 will be issued to drivers who break the Games Lanes regulations, for instance by driving in them or stopping along the route. |
Up to date traffic information on delays can be obtained from the BBC Travel news site for London. | Up to date traffic information on delays can be obtained from the BBC Travel news site for London. |
In a briefing before the problems began, a spokesman for Transport for London, said: "Several major routes into London will be exceptionally busy on Monday morning as the capital continues its transformation into a huge sporting and cultural venue. | In a briefing before the problems began, a spokesman for Transport for London, said: "Several major routes into London will be exceptionally busy on Monday morning as the capital continues its transformation into a huge sporting and cultural venue. |
"The unprecedented scale of changes to London's roads, the arrival for the Games of 11,500 athletes, media and officials and the Torch Relay mean that there will be a significant impact on traffic in the capital. | "The unprecedented scale of changes to London's roads, the arrival for the Games of 11,500 athletes, media and officials and the Torch Relay mean that there will be a significant impact on traffic in the capital. |
"This impact will last for the duration of the Olympic Games." | "This impact will last for the duration of the Olympic Games." |
The changes are part of the establishment of the Olympic Route Network, which is intended to make sure athletes and officials can move around the city smoothly. | The changes are part of the establishment of the Olympic Route Network, which is intended to make sure athletes and officials can move around the city smoothly. |
It is due to begin full operation on Wednesday. | It is due to begin full operation on Wednesday. |