Hornchurch and Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, has received confirmation from Transport for London that the Gallows Corner Flyover works are due to be completed, with the roads fully reopened by the end of April 2026.
The updated completion date means the junction is expected to be reopened ahead of the summer exam period which Mrs Lopez had pushed for, following concerns raised by local families about disruption during a key time for pupils travelling to and from school and college.
Since delays were announced last August, Julia has been pressing TfL and Essex and Suffolk Water for clear timelines and a delivery plan, writing multiple times to seek assurances that the programme would be brought back on track.
Alongside efforts to secure a firm completion date, Mrs Lopez has also pushed for practical support for local firms affected by the disruption, including securing business rates rebates for eligible businesses through the Valuation Office Agency.
Mrs Lopez said:
“Local people and businesses have had to put up with significant disruption, so I am pleased we now finally have a confirmed end date, with the roads due to be fully reopened by the end of April 2026.
“I have consistently pressed TfL and Essex and Suffolk Water for clarity and urgency since delays were announced last August, and I will continue to stay in close dialogue with TfL to ensure communication remains open and transparent if any issues arise in the weeks ahead.”
Read the full update from TfL below:
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding the work we – and Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) – are carrying out in the Gallows Corner area. We previously updated that we expected to complete all works by spring 2026. We can now confirm that the complete junction (both roundabout and flyover) is planned to reopen to general traffic by end of April 2026, with all diversions and traffic management removed.
The renewal of the ageing Gallows Corner flyover is essential to ensuring the safety and reliability of the road network in Havering and across east London. The flyover was built in the 1970s as a temporary structure and our works will ensure it can serve Londoners for generations to come.
The speed and weight limits implemented in previous years allowed the structure to continue operating safely but a major refurbishment project is now taking place to avoid future disruptions to the road network. These essential works will enable larger vehicles to use the flyover again.
We are working with our contractor Costain to complete the work as quickly and safely as possible. To avoid the inconvenience of further disruptive closures in future, we have been coordinating with Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW), who are replacing an ageing water main at the same time as the work on the flyover. Coordinating complex programmes such as these is always challenging, however, it is the right thing to do to minimise disruption to London's critical road network.
We have made significant progress in recent months. This includes constructing three new replacement foundations, installing new crash barriers on the flyover and local roads, and installing all 13 individual sections of the new flyover.
Over the coming weeks we will apply waterproofing and tarmac to the new flyover, and complete the remaining works on the roundabout and surrounding roads, including lighting columns, street signs and pedestrian crossings.
ESW’s works have also progressed well, in line with the new programme. This work has been challenging, with a high volume of uncharted utilities and structures found that have meant amending designs and construction methods. They have increased the amount of workers on-site and extended shifts (including working across Christmas), to keep progress in line with completing as early as possible.
Having already moved four smaller, local supply mains, four of the five stretches of the new larger, strategic water main have now been installed using traditional open-cut trenching, and the final stretch has now been installed using a tunnelling technique. This approach allowed the pipe to be routed safely beneath existing significant underground utilities and three culverts (large, deep structures used to carry surface water under the roundabout). The remaining work will be completed with the greatest of care to ensure that supplies to the large populations served by the pipe are maintained throughout.
These additional remaining works include two “under-pressure” connections to the existing main, while water continues to flow through it, with these scheduled to be completed by late February. Following this, large reinforced anchor blocks will be constructed to protect the main during its operation. These will be completed by mid-March.
Prior to connecting the new pipe to the existing main, the full route will be pressure tested by the end of March to prove there are no leaks. Finally, the new pipe will be disinfected and sampled to ensure the pipe meets the required high standards to carry drinking water. If the samples do not meet the required standard at that point, it will be cleaned again and retested until it does.
We are very sorry for the disruption caused by this essential work at Gallows Corner. We understand the impact this has had on people in the area, and have worked with all parties to ensure that the work is carried out with the least amount of additional disruption. The delays were the result of unforeseeable complications, including managing the complex interdependencies between the water main and flyover works, highly challenging ground conditions, and the discovery of two uncharted gas mains. We have also had to assess, design and mobilise specialist contractors to rebuild three of the 13 bridge supports. We are continuing to work hard to complete the remaining work as quickly as possible, and would like to thank everyone in the area for their patience during this important work.
We will continue to work to support local road users and businesses during this period, including regular project newsletters and updates to the ESW community hub, assisted delivery arrangements, business continuity messaging and ongoing engagement with local stakeholders.
