Transport for London (TfL) is advising road users to avoid the Victoria area if possible due to delays caused by a burst Thames Water main on Buckingham Gate and Buckingham Palace road.

Currently the following road closures are in place:

  • Buckingham Gate is closed westbound with one lane open eastbound
  • Birdcage Walk is closed westbound at the junction with Horse Guards Road
  • Buckingham Palace Road is closed between Lower Grosvenor Place and Victoria Street.

Traffic is heavy and slow moving throughout the area, with queues through Hyde Park Corner on to Park Lane.

Park Lane southbound is also slow moving with queues approaching Marble Arch.

TfL is in constant contact with Westminster Council, whose roads are affected, and with Thames Water, who currently advise that the work to fix the burst main could last for two days or more.

Variable Messaging Signs have been deployed to warn drivers of the disruption, and the Roads Policing Unit is on site assisting.

A number of bus services are currently on diversion, including:

  • C1, C2, C10, 16, 44, 52 and 82

More information is available at tfl.gov.uk/live

Leon Daniels, managing director of Surface Transport said: 'We are monitoring the situation closely and advise road users to avoid the Victoria area if possible.

'Bus passengers whose routes travel through Victoria are also advised to check for diversions before they travel. For the latest travel information please visit our website or follow @tfltrafficnews on Twitter.'

A Thames Water spokesman said: 'Buckingham Palace Road is closed between Victoria Street and Lower Grosvenor Place following complications with repairs to an 18 inch-wide water main that another utility mistakenly chopped through under Birdcage Walk on Tuesday.

'These complications have resulted in another burst on the same section of water pipe and none of our customers' water supplies have been affected. Our engineers are working round the clock to get this complex job done as quickly as possible.'