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London 2012 Games Lanes: Traffic delays of two hours London 2012 Games Lanes: Traffic delays of two hours
(40 minutes 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 heading into London faced delays of up to two hours on Monday morning after lanes on major roads were shut in the run-up to the Olympics.
Lanes were closed to traffic on the A12, A13 and A40. Lane closures on the A3, A12, A13 and A40 were planned to prepare the roads for the Olympic Route Network (ORN), Transport for London (TfL) said.
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 midday the traffic situation on the A12, A13 and A40 - which saw the worst delays - had improved.
Transport for London had warned journeys on the roads may take "considerably longer than usual". The ORN in London will become active across London on 25 July.
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. Garrett Emmerson, TfL's chief operating officer in charge of streets, said he "sympathised" with the motorists who were stuck on the roads.
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. But he added that TfL has been warning people to avoid driving into the capital from mid-July because driving on certain roads "is going to become very difficult".
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. In west London, a lane remains closed on the A40 at Savoy Circus due to a dangerous structure above a building.
There was also particularly heavy traffic on local roads in Canning Town and West Ham in east London. This closure led to the delays on the road leading up to Hangar Lane where there had been plans for roadworks to prepare the Games Lane for Wembley.
In east London on the A12 restrictions were in place on the East Cross Route and on the A13 work was ongoing on Newham Way, both on the ORN leading to the Olympic Park. But no problems were reported on the A3.
One motorist who called BBC London from the A13 said his normal hour-long drive from Swanley to Redbridge was expected to take about two and a half hours.
Earlier in the day there was also 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." href="https://twitter.com/chrisrowe54/status/227361774637285376" >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, href="https://twitter.com/richcowley" >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." But there was a note of positivity - href="https://twitter.com/ExposedUK" >@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. Garrett Emmerson, TfL's chief operating officer in charge of streets, said it was important to keep traffic flowing around the Olympic venues.
"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. "All of the physical measures needed for the Olympic Games are now on the road networks... so this is what it's going to be like now for the next three weeks," he said.
"This impact will last for the duration of the Olympic Games." "What we have got to do now is to make sure that we can manage the traffic to keep it moving, both for the Games and also as far as possible for Londoners to go about their daily business."
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. Ahead of the delays TfL had warned that lane closures on Monday would mean "several major routes into London will be exceptionally busy".
The changes are part of the establishment of the ORN, 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.