TfL strongly advises road users to avoid Vauxhall area where possible following helicopter crash

17 January 2013
Road users strongly advised to avoid the Vauxhall Cross and Kennington Park area.
  • Local roads and bus services remain disrupted and are likely to remain closed beyond the weekend

Following the helicopter crash in the Vauxhall area on 16 January there have been several road closures and a number of bus routes on diversion throughout the area. Although investigation and safety work continue to progress well, some road closures are likely to remain in place for several days while work to remove the damaged crane is carried out. Road users are therefore strongly advised to avoid the Vauxhall Cross and Kennington Park area and use alternative routes throughout Friday and the forthcoming weekend. 

Roads

Much of the Vauxhall Gyratory remains closed and drivers, pedestrians and cyclists who cannot avoid the area are advised to follow the signed diversion routes. 

Traffic heading clockwise towards the inner ring road will be diverted as follows:
 From A3 at Elephant & Castle up St. George's Road A302
 Up Lambeth Road A302
 Across Lambeth Bridge
 Left on to Millbank A3212

Traffic heading towards Vauxhall from the South West will be diverted as follows:
 From A3 Kennington Park Road up Kennington Road A23
 On to Lambeth Road A302
 Across Lambeth Bridge
 Left on to Millbank A3212

Congestion Charge

As a result of the incident Transport for London (TfL) has designated these diversion routes, which require drivers to enter the Congestion Charge zone, as 'Charge Free Routes' for the duration of the diversions.

Drivers using these routes will not be required to pay the Congestion Charge. Any vehicle that does not use the signed diversion routes will be subject to the Congestion Charge. 

Buses

Vauxhall bus station remains closed and the following bus routes remain on diversion: 77, 87, 88, 156, 196, 344 and 360.

In addition, routes 2, 36, 185 and 436 (southbound) are unable to serve the bus station so are serving a temporary stop on Bridgefoot (south side Vauxhall Bridge). While the bus station remains closed, additional staff will remain at Vauxhall bus station throughout the night to help direct passengers to alternative travel options.

Tube and rail

Vauxhall Tube and National Rail stations have now both re-opened and all services are running as normal.
 

River Services

St. George's Wharf pier remains closed. Thames Clippers  Bankside to St George's Wharf (Vauxhall) service is terminating at Millbank and not serving St George's Wharf.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: 'Our staff continue to work and minimise disruption to people travelling through the Vauxhall area following the terrible incident and are assisting the emergency services where necessary. Due to the ongoing road closures and diversions, traffic in the area has been very busy. We are therefore strongly advising road users to avoid the area and use alternatives route throughout Friday and across the weekend. Up-to-the minute travel information is available at tfl.gov.uk or by following @tfltravelalerts, @tfltrafficnews and @tflbusalerts on Twitter.'