A40 to shut for more than a month for safety works

A major west London road is to close for more than a month to allow critical safety work to take place, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.

Drivers will be unable to use the A40 between the Westway roundabout and the Marylebone flyover in both directions from 22:00 GMT Friday 20 March to late April.

The A40 Westway is one of the busiest routes on TfL's road network, carrying up to 96,000 vehicles a day.

Stuart Harvey from TfL said it was "vital that we ensure the A40 flyover 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."

The carriageway is supported by about 20 reinforced concrete bridge structures built between 1969 and 1970, and this phase of the project involves replacing two joints on the Marylebone flyover, which allow the structure to expand and contract safely in response to temperature changes and traffic movements.

TfL said the work was highly complex and required a full carriageway closure, which will be in place at all times.

It has been scheduled for the Easter period, when traffic flows are slightly lower, and planned to avoid clashing with other major roadworks where possible, according to TfL.

The organisation warned diversion routes and surrounding local roads will be extremely busy.

Drivers travelling between the M25 and central London via the A40 are being advised to use the M4 and A4 instead.

Those travelling between outer London and central London are encouraged to take the A312 Parkway or A406 North Circular Road to link with the M4 and A4.

Local residents are urged to consider Tube, rail and bus services, and to walk or cycle where possible - though any bus routes will also be affected by the closure.

Following this phase of work which ends in late April, the A40 will be closed to westbound traffic at the Westway roundabout every weekend (apart from bank holiday weekends) until 6 July.

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