London’s roads are under constant pressure from temporary traffic lights and roadworks, causing severe delays to bus services and frustrating commuters. Transport for London (TfL) must take stronger action to control the excessive and poorly managed disruptions that plague major routes across the city.
The Problem: Too Many Roadworks, Too Little Coordination
Temporary traffic lights and roadworks are essential for maintenance and upgrades, but their mismanagement is causing unnecessary gridlock. In some cases, multiple sets of temporary lights are installed on the same stretch of road, creating bottlenecks that slow buses to a crawl.
Real-Life Examples of Disruption
- A406 North Circular Road: In 2023, simultaneous utility works and resurfacing projects led to two separate sets of temporary lights within 500 metres, causing bus delays of up to 30 minutes during peak hours.
- A23 Brixton Road: Thames Water and TfL works overlapped in early 2024, resulting in severe congestion and forcing buses to divert, adding extra journey time for thousands of passengers.
- A4 Hammersmith Flyunder works: Prolonged lane closures and temporary signals led to a 15% drop in bus speeds in the area, according to TfL data.
Why Are Buses Hit the Hardest?
Buses are particularly vulnerable to roadworks because:
- They cannot easily reroute like cars.
- Frequent stops mean they get caught in repeated light cycles.
- Delays compound across the network, worsening reliability.
TfL’s own figures show that roadworks account for nearly 20% of bus delays in Central London, with some routes experiencing over 10 hours of lost time per week due to poorly coordinated works.
What Needs to Change?
- Stricter Limits on Concurrent Roadworks – No major road should have more than one set of temporary lights at a time.
- Better Coordination Between Utilities and TfL – Works should be scheduled to minimise overlap.
- Faster Enforcement of Lane Rental Schemes – TfL should penalise contractors who exceed agreed disruption limits.
- Real-Time Monitoring – Smart traffic systems should adjust signals dynamically to keep buses moving.
Conclusion: TfL Must Act Now
Temporary lights and roadworks are necessary, but their current mismanagement is crippling London’s bus network. With better planning and stricter enforcement, TfL can reduce delays and keep the city moving. Commuters deserve reliable bus services—it’s time for TfL to take major action.
What’s your experience with roadworks and bus delays? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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