Construction of a major cycling route which will see dramatic changes to a number of key Southwark roads will begin next month, TfL has said.
Work on the initial 1.8km phase of Cycleway 4 between Tower Bridge and Rotherhithe will begin on July 5, and will see new crossings on Tooley Street and Jamaica Road, and changes to Rotherhithe roundabout.
The work is expected to finish in April next year – and motorists are warned to plan ahead for delays as Tooley Street and Jamaica Road will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
Construction will take place between 8am and 6pm six days a week with the potential for additional work on Sundays if required, said TfL.
Work on further sections of the route covering Evelyn Street and Creek Road, Deptford, will begin next year.
Although efforts will be made to reduce disruption, including working during the school summer holidays when roads are quieter where possible, drivers and bus users should expect delays in the area, TfL added.
The council begin consulting on further changes in the borough as part of the route, including the area surrounding Lower Road, next month.
Cllr Richard Livingstone, who holds the council’s transport portfolio, said the local authority welcomed the new addition to segregated cycleways in the borough.
“I hope that the introduction of segregated bike lanes and improved junctions will encourage even more people to get on their bikes and help to improve their health and happiness, and all of our air quality,” he said.
Mayor Sadiq khan said he was “delighted” that work was beginning on the route.
“High-quality segregated cycle routes greatly increase the numbers of people who feel confident cycling on our streets and with new pedestrian crossings along the route, road danger will be substantially reduced for thousands of pedestrians too,” he said.
Travel advice can be found on the TfL website here.
When completed the route will create a continuous segregated cycle route from Tower Bridge to Greenwich.