Transport for London sent out a letter this week updating local residents about their plans to transform the A23 Streatham Hill between Sternhold Avenue and Holmewood Road.
The text from the letter is below:
The scheme is designed to reduce road danger and make it easier, safer and more pleasant for people to walk and cycle. Ensuring that everyone can travel safely and sustainably is important to the health and wellbeing of people in neighbourhoods and communities across the capital. This includes being able to access local high streets, shops and other businesses and amenities easily and affordably.
The A23 through Streatham has a poor safety record, with 81 collisions in the 36-month period up to 30 April 2024, resulting in injuries to 87 people. In 2014 there were two fatalities at this location, one pedestrian in April and a car occupant in December. We believe that no-one should be killed or seriously injured when travelling in London and so are working to deliver the Mayor’s target of eliminating these tragedies from our streets by 2041.
We consulted on our proposals in 2020, with 70 per cent of respondents stating that the changes would make it easier/safer to walk and 83 per cent saying the same about cycling.
What is happening now
We are now preparing to begin construction in Summer 2025, with work expected to finish in Spring 2027. We have planned our construction programme to minimise disruption to local residents and businesses and those travelling through the area, ensuring we can maintain traffic flow while also minimising works carried out at night, in order to avoid disturbing local residents.
The scheme will make it easier to cross busy roads, offer protected space for people to cycle and provide continuous bus lanes with fewer obstructions.
Improvements will include:
- New protected cycle lanes throughout the extent of the scheme, including over the busy South Circular Road.
- Two new pedestrian crossings, and relocating the existing pedestrian crossings to where people want to cross the road.
- Sufficient waiting area for people boarding and alighting buses through the area, separated from the cycle lanes with bus stop bypasses.
- New zebra crossings on the cycle lanes, adjacent to bus stops, for pedestrians to cross the cycle lanes and link up with the signalised crossings.
- Improving bus lanes and protecting bus journey times by relocating parking and loading bays into widened pavements. This will make the bus lanes clearer and easier for buses to travel.
- Changing some access to local side roads including restrictions and closures. This will improve road safety on the A23, and help reduce rat-running on local roads
Making public spaces more attractive for everyone, including by planting new trees and landscaping, as well as sustainable drainage to reduce the risk of flooding.
Changes to side roads
Changes of access to local side roads will be introduced over the course of construction. These will include:
- Amesbury Avenue, Barcombe Avenue, Barhill Road and Wyatt Park
Road – these will become left-turn exit only for traffic (except cycles) onto the A23. This is to minimise vehicle movements across the cycle track, improving road safety. Residents will still be able to access their properties by motor vehicle via an alternative route. - Telford Avenue – this will become exit only for traffic (except cycles) onto the A23. This is due to the operation of the proposed signalised junction, which will improve road safety for all users through the junction, including buses accessing the bus garage. Residents will still be able to access their properties via an alternative route.
- Ardwell Road and Tierney Road – these will become closed for motor traffic access to and from the A23 Streatham Hill. Pedestrian and cycle access will be retained. This is to facilitate the bi-directional cycle track, relocate pedestrian crossings to where people want to cross, and improve provision for bus passengers at Bus Stop T. Residents will still be able to access their properties via alternative routes.
- Cricklade Avenue, Downton Avenue, Wavertree Road, Morrish Road and Holmewood Road – no changes to existing arrangements.
Whilst work is underway
We will do everything we can to minimise disruption for local residents, road users and bus passengers during this time. We are looking at reducing impacts through measures such as undertaking less noisy work during extended hours and at weekends when there is less traffic but will avoid working at night as much as we can.
We will continuously monitor traffic flows and take action as required, such as adjusting traffic signal timings. We will also work with bus operators to minimise any impacts on bus services as far as we can, as well as working closely with Lambeth Council to monitor and address any impacts on local side roads.
Further information on our plans will be available in the coming weeks, including a dedicated travel advice page.
We will write to you again before the work starts in November with more information about the construction work may impact you. We will also provide details of the dedicated travel advice page at this time. I hope this is useful, and please visit our webpage for more information at this time.