Julia Lopez, the Member of Parliament for Hornchurch & Upminster, has again written to the Transport Secretary calling on her to give final approval for the refurbishment of the Gallows Corner flyover.
The letter comes after TfL confirmed they had submitted the final business case for the project to the Department for Transport.
TfL have said they have a contractor in place ready to start work from the end of February, should the Transport Secretary approve the plans originally put in place by the previous Conservative Government.
In a letter dated last Friday, Mrs Lopez urged the Transport Secretary to give final approval as soon as possible so that the “vital” works to refurbish the flyover could commence.
The existing flyover which was constructed in the 1970s was only ever intended to be a temporary measure, and was due to be replaced in the 1990s. However, the flyover still exists just over 50 years later and is in desperate need of refurbishment.
Without the refurbishment, TfL have said that the flyover could close, potentially creating traffic misery for thousands of motorists every day.
Commenting, Mrs Lopez said:
“It’s imperative that the Transport Secretary approves the final business case from TfL to refurbish the Gallows Corner flyover. Without her sign off, TfL have said the flyover could close as early as this year, piling on misery for thousands of motorists every day who will be stuck in traffic.
“Back in May the Conservative Government approved £57m of the £67m which is desperately needed to refurbish the flyover. Now that TfL have submitted their final business case for approval, I’m urging the transport secretary to get the project that we started over the line.”
