Major East London junction faces prolonged disruption
Transport for London has confirmed that the crucial Gallows Corner junction in Romford will remain closed until Spring 2026, delivering what local leaders describe as a "frustrating blow" to the community. The major East London interchange connecting the A12, A127 and Main Road has been shut since June 23 this year, with initial hopes for a Christmas reopening now dashed.
Unexpected engineering challenges cause delays
Transport bosses revealed that engineers encountered severe unexpected problems that have complicated the project significantly. The discovery of pockets of shale underground forced the abandonment of the planned horizontal directional drilling method. Additionally, workers must replace an ageing water main running beneath the flyover, adding further complexity to the already challenging project.
Havering Council Leader Ray Morgan expressed mixed feelings about the announcement. "Following extensive pressure which included meetings with the transport commissioner and officers we now have some clarity on the revised timeline," he stated. However, he added his "deep disappointment" that the junction won't reopen before Christmas as initially hoped.
Community impact and ongoing concerns
The prolonged closure has created significant disruption across multiple aspects of daily life in Havering. Local businesses have reported substantial losses, while schools, emergency services and public transport have all been affected by the ongoing works. The council leader acknowledged that the delays have "affected daily life, local businesses, schools, emergency services, and public transport" and have even delayed the delivery of the council's wider highways programmes.
Scott Haxton, TfL's director of capital delivery, apologised for the continued disruption but emphasised the necessity of the work. "The renewal of the ageing Gallows Corner flyover is essential to ensuring safety and reliability of the road network in Havering," he explained. "Working together with Essex & Suffolk Water to replace an ageing water main at the same time as work on the flyover will help to avoid future disruption."
Local authorities have committed to continuing pressure on TfL for regular, transparent updates and a firm end date as the complex engineering project progresses through the winter months and into next spring.
