Open to taxis, closed to minicabs: Seven months of essential London Bridge works will begin in March

An essential maintenance and waterproofing programme will see London Bridge closed to all traffic except buses, licensed taxis and people walking and cycling for seven months, from 16 March to October 2020.

The vital work will replace the original protective waterproofing layer below the road surface, along with 24 bearings, and will ensure the bridge will remain operational for years to come.

Other necessary repairs to the concrete deck will be carried out at the same time, to minimise the need for disruption in the future.

The programme will be carried out in two stages.

Stage One: Works to the western side, will run from March to May.

Stage Two: Works to the eastern side, will run from May to October.

During this time, traffic on London Bridge will be restricted to only allow buses, cycles, pedestrians and licensed taxis only. All other private road users, including private hire minicabs, will be diverted to nearby bridges.

Walking routes over London Bridge will be much busier than usual, with footways restricted to the east footpath during stage one, and to a combination of the west footpath and part of the east carriageway during stage two.

Roads on the approaches to London Bridge north and south of the river are also expected to be busier than usual, especially when travelling during the peak times of 07:00 - 09:00 and 16:00 - 19:00 on weekdays.

People cycling will be able use London Bridge as usual throughout the works, however there will only be one lane open in each direction, shared with buses and licensed taxis. Officials from a City of London have suggested that cyclists may find they have a better journey by using a different route such as Southwark Bridge or travelling outside of the busiest times.

All people travelling in the area are advised to plan their journey in advance and to consider travelling at off-peak times or taking alternative routes. Full travel advice is available at www.tfl.gov.uk/london-bridge-works

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