Request ID: FOI-1693-2223 Date published: 08 November 2022
You asked
Hi. The A4 has been blocked up on both sides on the A4 from 3 lanes to 1 lane just before the M4. I understand these must be crucial roadworks but i what I don’t understand why the works are rarely happening. I pass through that patch everyday and the 15 min journey is taking over an hour. There is no one or max one or two people working on the site in the day and no one working there in the evening. Plus to make matters worse, for a 30feet roadworks patch the road has been made into a single lane over a mile causing huge traffic jams throughout the day!
Does TFL understand how crucial this road is? Thousands of car must be passing through that road every day and it is causing thousands of hours of delays, huge amounts of wastage of fuel stuck in traffic and unrepairable damage to the environment with the pollution that it is causing. Does anyone care of how this impacts the local community who live around there and have to use that road?
I fail to understand why the work can’t be done on that patch at full speed with shifts working day and night to complete it quicker. At the same road patch work was being done in August-September and then suddenly the work was completed overnight as the Queens funeral had to pass through that road on their way to Windsor. Can we the living people get at least some consideration!!
Under Freedom of Information can you please respond to the below as I would like to blog about it and make it public information:
How many vehicles normally pass through that section of A4 on a normal day?
What is the estimated pollution damage estimated as a result of the current roadworks?
What is the estimated damage to public health to those who live in the area as a result of the pollution?
Why have only limited work force been deployed at the site?
What is the cost of the works to the public and what would have been the cost if more work shifts were allocated to finish the works earlier?
Hoping for a prompt response.
We answered
TfL Ref: 1693-2223 Thank you for your request received by us on 13 October 2022 asking for information about roadworks and traffic westbound on the A4. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked: 1.How many vehicles normally pass through that section of A4 on a normal day? The information you asked for is available on the Department for Transport’s website using the following link: https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/#14/51.4893/-0.2780/basemap-countpoints
2.What is the estimated pollution damage estimated as a result of the current roadworks?
3.What is the estimated damage to public health to those who live in the area as a result of the pollution? Under Transport for London’s Project Management processes, an Environmental Evaluation (EE) can be undertaken to help identify the environmental risks and opportunities of projects that are to be undertaken by TfL. The EE includes some consideration of the construction phase impacts, for example, the potential for the works to give rise to elevated levels of noise or emissions. If these issues are identified as risks, then our processes highlight the need to ensure that best practicable means are implemented to minimise both noise and emissions to air. If warranted, a ‘Section 61 Prior Consent’ may also be sought from the Council to agree measures which will be implemented to control noise to acceptable levels. For the majority of our schemes, we wouldn’t undertake a detailed assessment of the environmental implications of undertaking the works, with our focus being to ensure any impacts are minimised by using best practicable means, and to undertake the works as quickly as possible to minimise the duration of any impacts. Although an EE wasn’t implemented in this instance, an air quality monitoring device specifically installed before and during the road works in question would be required to provide this specific detail. However, source data covering air quality in London can be sourced from the following websites, for example: https://maps.london.gov.uk/air-quality/ http://londonair.org.uk/london/asp/annualmaps.asp www.londonair.org.uk www.airqualityengland.co.uk/, In the meantime, Transport for London continues to improve the capital’s air quality through a range of initiatives and studies across London as detailed via the following links to our website: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/air-quality https://content.tfl.gov.uk/technical-note-20-what-are-the-main-health-impacts.pdf
4. Why have only limited work force been deployed at the site? Whilst we appreciate that these works are causing serious traffic disruption and we apologise for any inconvenience caused, they will avoid the need for more disruptive and expensive repairs at a later date. The Cromwell Road Rail Bridge on the A4 Great West Road was built in the 1940’s but has had no major refurbishment since it was built over 80 years ago. The condition of the bridge has gradually deteriorated over time and we must carry out essential works to improve the long-term condition of the bridge. Our works will repair any structural defects and waterproof the whole of the bridge, as well as resurfacing the road and footways and renewing the safety fencing. Working 24/7 is not possible as there are some activities that require ‘rest time’. For example the concrete pouring to resurface the carriageway requires hours of cooling time between each layer, which restricts our site activities. Where and when we can, we are maximising our operations to speed up the overall programme including working at night and weekends whilst balancing minimising the impact on motorists.
5.What is the cost of the works to the public and what would have been the cost if more work shifts were allocated to finish the works earlier? The total costs including design and construction are in the region of £1.4m - £1.7m, and that includes working out of hours where conditions permit. If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
