Reason for road closure - Green Man underpass (A12)
Request ID: FOI-2928-2223 Date published: 24 February 2023
You asked
Almost every Friday night for at least the last 6 years I travel home up the A12 northbound and find that the Green Man tunnel is closed and the traffic is diverted up to the roundabout and along Cambridge Park, often causing traffic chaos.
What maintenance necessitates this road to be closed so often for such an extended period of time. Can you explain in detail or provide a schedule of works for what is actually being done in there and why it's been going on for so long and when it's likely to be completed.
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2928-2223
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 7th February 2023 asking for information about the Green Man underpass on the A12.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy.
Specifically you asked:
“Almost every Friday night for at least the last 6 years I travel home up the A12 northbound and find that the Green Man tunnel is closed and the traffic is diverted up to the roundabout and along Cambridge Park, often causing traffic chaos.
What maintenance necessitates this road to be closed so often for such an extended period of time. Can you explain in detail or provide a schedule of works for what is actually being done in there and why it's been going on for so long and when it's likely to be completed.”
I can confirm that we hold the information you require.
This portion of the A12 has two road tunnels in close proximity – Green Man and George Green. These tunnels house critical safety systems that need regular maintenance, including CCTV, lighting, fire systems, and communication’s equipment. A failure of any or some of these systems can result in unplanned and prolonged closures on safety grounds, so regular maintenance is essential.
Maintenance works carried out are wide ranging and comprehensive and include mandatory checks to safety assets like the fire systems, through to more basic cleansing activities to drainage and walls. Our current schedules include 56 separate maintenance activities, ranging from monthly to yearly frequencies dependent upon the specific asset requirements Tunnel maintenance is an ongoing requirement and activity. Our current programme shows closures to George Green and Green Man Tunnels essentially once a month, although the former is split into an east and then westbound closure respectively.
If this is not the information you are looking for 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,
David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
