New freight to cut congestion and improve safety around the The Shard

TfL has introduced new vehicle holding areas for freight and construction vehicles around The Shard, to relieve congestion and prevent illegal stopping.

Transport for London are working with London Bridge Working Group, and have introduced long-term, congestion easing measures to relieve traffic obstructions and illegal stopping around The Shard Development.

New holding areas for freight and construction vehicles have been created on Great Dover Street and St Thomas Street, which allow these vehicles to park and wait until they have clear access to the buildings or sites.

Previously, whilst working in the area, vehicles servicing The Shard or other nearby developments had been illegally stopping and obstructing roads, which was exacerbated when a number of vehicles were trying to access the site at the same time.

TfL have been visiting the sites to ensure that drivers are using the new facility – engaging with companies and moving on illegally parked vehicles to prevent unnecessary congestion in the area.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s Chief Operating Officer of Surface Transport, said: “We are committed to any initiative that helps to ease congestion and create a safer environment for all road users. London’s boom in construction and population means we have to find new ways to accommodate the increasing numbers of freight and delivery vehicles. Areas such as around The Shard can become congested quite easily unless we do something straight away.

“The solution that was found – providing nearby space for vehicles to park up and wait – was fairly straight-forward and yet invaluably effective in addressing congestion and safety in the area.”

Further temporary improvements around The Shard have included a relocation of the taxi rank at Fielden House to the opposite side of the road, which predominantly serves as a feeder to the rank opposite The Shard on St Thomas Street and the relocation of the pedestrian crossing to the east side of the site on St Thomas Street. There are also additional red lines to prevent stopping in the street and suspension of the loading bay outside The Shard to discourage vehicles stopping.

The works come as part of the Mayor’s £4Bn Road Modernisation Plan which is the largest investment in the Capital’s roads in a generation.

 

The post New freight to cut congestion and improve safety around the The Shard appeared first on UK Construction Online.