A key stretch of the A40 Westway in west London will be closed for more than a month from March as Transport for London (TfL) carries out essential safety and maintenance work on the
elevated road.
Major renewal works between the A40 Westway roundabout and the Marylebone flyover are scheduled to begin on Friday 20 March and are expected to continue until late April. The closure will allow engineers to replace ageing structural joints that have reached the end of their service life.
Why the A40 needs to close
The A40 Westway is one of the busiest routes on TfL’s road network, carrying up to 96,000 vehicles a day. Parts of the structure, including critical expansion joints, are no longer fit for long-term use and must be replaced to ensure the flyover remains safe and reliable for decades to come.
The joints allow the elevated road to expand and contract with temperature changes and traffic movement. Replacing them is a complex and highly specialist operation that requires a full carriageway closure. Due to the nature of the work, the road cannot reopen until the project is complete.
TfL says it reviewed several options and concluded that a complete closure was the safest and fastest way to carry out the work.
Minimising disruption where possible
While TfL acknowledges the disruption the closure will cause, the timing has been carefully planned to reduce the impact on road users. Part of the works will take place during the Easter period, when traffic levels are typically lower, and the schedule has been coordinated to avoid clashes with other major roadworks nearby.
A comprehensive traffic management and signal strategy will be in place throughout the closure and will be reviewed regularly to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible on surrounding routes.
However, local roads and diversion routes are expected to be busy, and delays are likely, particularly at peak times.
Impact on buses and travel advice
As part of the closure, 33 bus routes will be affected. TfL is urging people who normally use the A40 Westway to plan ahead and consider alternative ways of travelling into London.
For shorter journeys, walking, cycling or using public transport is expected to be quicker and more reliable. Live updates on road conditions are available on TfL’s website, while Tube, DLR and Overground service updates can be checked at tfl.gov.uk or via the TfL Go app.
TfL response
Stuart Harvey, TfL's Chief Capital Officer, said: "The A40 is a key artery in west London and it's vital that we ensure it is well maintained for the tens of thousands of people who use it each day. This essential work will allow the flyover to continue to be used safely for decades to come. I'd like to thank people in the area for their patience during these works and would encourage everyone to plan ahead for any journeys in the area, using alternative modes of transport where possible."
More work to follow
TfL has confirmed that additional works on the A40 Westway are planned in the future, with further details to be released once timings are confirmed. Drivers and passengers are advised to check the latest travel information before setting off. Photo by A40 Westway, Wikimedia commons.