Hornchurch & Upminster MP, Julia Lopez, has been told by Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) to expect a revised programme for Gallows Corner works in the next 48 hours.
In response to mounting frustration from residents and businesses, ESW has also indicated it will extend working hours and bring in additional resources to accelerate the completion of outstanding works.
The move follows sustained pressure from Mrs Lopez for greater transparency around the cause of the project delays, a credible delivery timescale, and stronger assurances that all agencies involved are acting with urgency to reduce disruption.
Commenting on the update, Julia Lopez MP said:
“Residents and businesses have endured far too much uncertainty from these overrunning works. A clear revised timeline must now be published without further delay – and it must be adhered to. People deserve to know when this disruption will finally end, and I will be holding both Transport for London and Essex & Suffolk Water to account to ensure promises are delivered.”
Julia confirmed that she and her office will continue close engagement with ESW and Transport for London to ensure the revised programme is clearly communicated and delivered in line with new commitments.
This latest development comes just days after Mrs Lopez wrote to Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, urging him to step in and provide clarity on the troubled project.
The full response from ESW can be seen below.
Dear Ms Lopez,
Thank you for your email dated 16 September 2025, and for your continued engagement regarding the Gallows Corner infrastructure works. I appreciate the opportunity to respond formally to the concerns raised and to outline the actions Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) is taking to support the successful delivery of this critical project. The content of this letter has been approved by Alastair Tawn, our Head of Integrated Delivery Services, and other senior colleagues, my role as Public Affairs Business Partner is to share the document on their behalf.
We fully recognise the strategic importance of the Gallows Corner flyover replacement scheme and the significant disruption that delays can cause to residents, businesses, public services, and the wider transport network. Please be assured that we take these concerns seriously and remain committed to working collaboratively with Transport for London (TFL), Costain, and London Borough of Havering (LBH) to minimise further disruption and deliver our works as efficiently as possible.
Background and Current Position & Coordination with TfL
Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) have a large strategic water main within the supporting structure of the flyover and four smaller mains close by. As the flyover was originally meant to be temporary, these were not moved at the time of construction. However, the flyover renewal provides an opportunity to divert the main and is also a legal requirement to do so now. Diverting these mains now not only protects them from the heavy engineering of the flyover project itself, but allows them to be repositioned where they would cause significantly less disruption in the case of maintenance or repairs, ensuring a reliable and resilient supply of water for customers now and for generations to come.
Essex & Suffolk Water’s work is now focused on completing the diversion of the fifth main, the largest of the five. Works on the four smaller mains diversions are well underway and near completion.
The original plan had been to use a directional drilling technique, creating a bore wide enough to pull the new main through from one side of the junction to the other, without having to disrupt progress on the flyover activity and allowing both projects to take place concurrently. However, unforeseen ground conditions in the form of pockets of shale has been encountered and have caused significant engineering challenges. The presence of shale means that a tunnel cannot be formed as shale does not hold its shape to from a tunnel, preventing a pipe being pulled through.
The ground conditions also posed a risk to the flyover construction, eliminating the possibility of us pursuing a second, and deeper bore attempt.
A revised plan is currently being finalised, and every effort is being made to minimise further delays. We are actively exploring all available options to expedite works by deploying additional resources and extending working hours. These measures are aimed at optimising on-site productivity and ensuring that the remaining works are completed as safely and efficiently as possible.
With both projects requiring revisions to their original plans for already complex pieces of engineering, the teams from all parties are working closely and at pace, with daily site meetings among numerous weekly touch points, to ensure the new programmes align and can be delivered cohesively and safely, with the aim of minimising the additional delays from the extended timeline.
To ensure effective coordination, we hold weekly site meetings with Transport for London (TfL) and their contractor, Costain, where all activities are reviewed and aligned. In the event of any site conflicts, TfL retains responsibility for determining work sequencing and location. To date, we have not been informed of any issues arising from our works that would delay or disrupt TfL’s progress.
Public Briefing Note
A briefing note is being prepared which will outline what has happened and why, and the coordination with the flyover works and current progress.Formal Programme Update
We anticipate confirming our revised programme by the end of September.
While we cannot commit to weekly meetings with LBH, we are committed to working with TFL to ensure regular updates to LBH and other stakeholders, as well as the public. This includes a commitment to provide more regular updates on our community hub starting with the briefing note when finalised. Project: Gallows Corner | Essex & Suffolk Water
Emergency Works and Community Impact
We acknowledge the concerns regarding recent emergency works on Lower Bedford’s Road. This was an unavoidable incident involving a burst main. Our crew was mobilised immediately upon receiving the 4:00am call, and the works were completed within 72 hours.
Traffic management was implemented in full compliance with LBH permit conditions, and the site was inspected by Highways Officers. We remain committed to 24-hour working where feasible and safe, and we are reviewing internal processes to reduce perceived inactivity during crew transitions and the reinstatement phases.
Improved Collaboration with TfL
ESW and TfL have worked very closely on this project throughout its planning and implementation. ESW maintains a transparent and solution focused working relationship with TfL, underpinned by regular bi-weekly coordination meetings. These sessions follow a clear agenda, with defined action points and shared knowledge and ownership of outcomes to ensure accountability and progress. In addition, daily site meetings at 4:00 PM provide an open forum for on-site teams to align effectively and address emerging issues in real time. Ad hoc meetings are convened as needed to further support and reinforce the efficient delivery of the project.
Independent Review
Engineering challenges are an inevitable part of complex projects. The team remains rightly focused on resolving these issues swiftly and collaboratively, and are working towards the completion. Post-project reviews are conducted to capture lessons learnt, enabling continuous improvement and informing best practices for future deliveries.
We understand the frustration caused by the delays and the wider implications for the borough. ESW remains fully committed to resolving these issues swiftly and constructively. I hope this response provides reassurance of our intent and progress, and I welcome continued dialogue to ensure we meet the needs of the community.
I hope this summary is helpful to you. Should you or your office require further information, we will soon be in touch regarding the meeting you requested and look forward to answering any further questions.
