Peckham Rye road works

[malumbu]

Changing the subject, to another favourite, traffic congestion.  Southwark have conspired with British Gas to do some serious road works as you come into Peckham, lasting around 3 months I understand.

To be serious - yesterday morning the whole area was gridlocked.  I had to walk on the pavement for some of it.  I've commuted on this route for a long time and never seen it so bad.  Perhaps there was an accident or blockage elsewhere with a knock on effect.  I'll be cycling that way next week so it would be good to know if Thursday was a one off.  Thanks

[Penguin68]

On a number of occasions in recent years I have found myself unable to leave Dulwich via any route in any direction without, at the least, coming across roads with new traffic controls limiting roads to single track highways, and in some instances sealing roads off completely, including the South Circular, problems exacerbated by roads closed to traffic sometimes permanently because of LTNs etc. and sometimes occasionally as school streets. A number of these closures have been for planned works, planned apparently without any 'whole picture' being reviewed by anyone.

I assume this is done with a focus just on the costs of these projects, optimised around not paying overtime or for weekend or evening work or with full crews (at least I hope that at least was a consideration) but not around the economic costs to road users of such selfishness. Or it could be that and just plain planning incompetence. 

[malumbu]

I just wanted to find out if this was one day or will be like this daily.  And alerting others as a community service.

[malumbu]

 The other roadworks have not bothered me as I can get round them on my bike, or on the odd occasion I need to drive time my journey accordingly and just sit in the traffic with a zen philosophical approach. 

Edited June 6 by Joe

[Rockets]

I expressed my view on this when it was discussed in another thread about the fact Dulwich has been ring-fenced by works for weeks...go check them out.

I am sorry that you feel compelled to complain because your journey/s are now being interrupted in the same way many others have had to endure for months. Great news is though, for us cyclists, the impact is minimal!

[malumbu]

I'm not complaining I am asking FHS. 

[jazzer]

6 hours ago, malumbu said:

Changing the subject, to another favourite, traffic congestion.  Southwark have conspired with British Gas to do some serious road works as you come into Peckham, lasting around 3 months I understand.

To be serious - yesterday morning the whole area was gridlocked.  I had to walk on the pavement for some of it.  I've commuted on this route for a long time and never seen it so bad.  Perhaps there was an accident or blockage elsewhere with a knock on effect.  I'll be cycling that way next week so it would be good to know if Thursday was a one off.  Thanks

i) Factually incorrect, it is NOT British Gas, it's a company called SGN.

ii) The gridlock is due to the two pairs of traffic lights at the junction of Peckham Rye and East Dulwich Road and a second set at the top of Rye Lane. I went through there yesterday, it wasn't that bad, the issue is that buses are terminating early at what was the Heaton Arms, so reduced buses going to Nunhead or at least some of the 78's and also at one stage no 63's running further than the Heaton Arms and a limited/reduced service on the 363's.  

6 hours ago, malumbu said:

I just wanted to find out if this was one day or will be like this daily.  And alerting others as a community service.

Yes, likely to be daily till works completed, phase 3 is yet to start. 

[malumbu]

Didn't study the works notice.  So should be OKish Monday.  Cheers.

Gosh, just educated myself on SGN.  Hadn't taken much notice of regional gas networks before.  Not a lot on Wiki about them apart from a gas explosion at Thornton Heath

[Twoddle]

Gasworks for 16 weeks.

[Sue]

SIXTEEN WEEKS?

At all three of those locations?

All at once? Or a bit at a time, presumably, as the roads are connected?

What on earth are they doing that is going to take sixteen weeks?

😮😮😮

 

Edited May 18 by Sue

[Penguin68]

5 minutes ago, Sue said:

What on earth are they doing that is going to take sixteen weeks?

Nothing, or next to nothing. This will be scheduled for their convenience, not yours. There will be a lot of 'No action' day after day. As occasional work teams arrive and go. They will make sure they are not paying for overtime or weekend working. The amount of actual work will probably be a third or a half of the lapsed time of the 'work'. 

[kiera]

IainJ posted the details of these works with the timings of the three phases on 4th May on an earlier thread under the heading 'Gas works gridlock this summer'. 

[L_M]

@Administrator feel free to merge both threads.

14 weeks of BS works to go and gala due shortly. 

 

[malumbu]

Yes do merge.  There were three separate works today as some new unrelated digging closer to East Dulwich.  It will be worse than the pedestrian crossing at the Harvester. Which got some people's goat. Best to avoid if you have to drive.  I'll have another go by bike in the morning, Google took me on an odd route through a council estate today.  My biggest issue is buses but if push comes to shove I'll walk to Rye Lane and plenty of alternatives to the 63 for getting further into town.

Edited May 19 by malumbu

[jazzer]

2 hours ago, malumbu said:

My biggest issue is buses but if push comes to shove I'll walk to Rye Lane and plenty of alternatives to the 63 for getting further into town.

Why are buses your biggest issue?

[malumbu]

Because  I use buses......

Shall I clarify.  Bus journeys.

[Monkey]

Would have been nice for Southwark to spare a thought for kids doing exams at this time of year. I expect a lot of them will get very stressed trying to reach their destination. 

And another note, take care if you’re cycling. There were a lot of HGVs when I came back at lunchtime yesterday. Also some dangerous driving as drivers became irate after being stuck for ages.

[malumbu]

Pleased to report that congestion wasn't too bad today so last Friday was a blip, no doubt as there had been another issue that led to grid lock.  It may take you ten mins or more longer.  I don't drive very much so only speaking from the observations of a cyclist who had used this route for many years.

 

6 hours ago, Monkey said:

Would have been nice for Southwark to spare a thought for kids doing exams at this time of year. I expect a lot of them will get very stressed trying to reach their destination.

As a child I hated having exams during hay fever season and the long days when you'd wake at 6.  But like ageing infrastructure you can't pin these in the local authority.

6 hours ago, Monkey said:

Would have been nice for Southwark to spare a thought for kids doing exams at this time of year. I expect a lot of them will get very stressed trying to reach their destination.

As a child I hated having exams during hay fever season and the long days when you'd wake at 6.  But like ageing infrastructure you can't pin these in the local authority.

[malumbu]

So I good I said it twice

Pretty quiet at school leaving time today so good for kids.  Surely most secondary students are walking distance anyway. Many who use the bus only go a few stops.  Basing that on what I see outside Harris Boys ED  when I cycle past in the morning. 

Edited May 20 by malumbu

[first mate]

I had thought school traffic, as in cars, were contributors to traffic congestion and parking issues?

[malumbu]

That's usually associated with primary schools or private schools.  The hard kids at Harris East Dulwich don't need their mummies and daddies driving them to school

[jazzer]

Any knowledge when the Barry Road works began plus those just prior to/in front of the gala site? Looks all most as their is no way to avoid them on public transport.  

[Penguin68]

I think Monday. The plan to seal off East Dulwich before the tanks move in is almost complete. No doubt the cheerleaders for Southwark's exemplary planning and roads departments will be out in force to peal joy and encouragement. 

[geh]

On 20/05/2025 at 17:37, malumbu said:

So I good I said it twice

Pretty quiet at school leaving time today so good for kids.  Surely most secondary students are walking distance anyway. Many who use the bus only go a few stops.  Basing that on what I see outside Harris Boys ED  when I cycle past in the morning. 

thats because most of the driving parents seem to use Rye Court as their personal drop off area!

Based on when I cycle to my dad's in the morning

Edited May 22 by geh
edited for additional clarity

[pebs]

20 mins on the bus so far from Heber road to BP garage on grove vale. Complete joke.