𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

In November 2015 a Chinese infrastructure project went viral after engineers closed Beijing’s 1,300 tonne Sanyuan Bridge and completely replaced it with an entirely new structure in just 43 hours.

Almost 10 years later, on June 23 2025 the Gallows Corner roundabout – a key junction between the A12 and the 127 in east London and a vital route to the M25 for an entire section of the capital – closed to allow the replacement of an old metal flyover. Residents were informed the works, though disruptive, would be completed within three months – by the end of September.

More than 14 months later the road closures remain in place and commuters, drivers and those unfortunate enough to live nearby have been served a depressing excuses.

So how did the simple replacement of a metal flyover on a key commercial route in and out of London become a 14-month-and-counting Odyssey of suffering and farce? And what does the entire sorry saga say about the state of modern Britain?

Sir Sadiq Khan has been accused of not caring about the “diabolical” closure. Reform UK MP Andrew Rosindell said the Transport for London (TfL) works at Gallows Corner have left locals not being able to drop their children off at school and businesses losing custom.

The junction was shut completely for renewal and strengthening works and partially reopened on May 10 this year, but only in one direction. Drivers can now travel eastbound on the flyover, between the A12 and A127 and between Straight Road and Main Road.

But the closure remains westbound, and the A12 southbound will remain bus only. Officials are accused of not doing proper surveys as the project has been disrupted by extra work on a new water main carried out by Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW). Mr Rosindell, who represents Romford, told The Express that the original metal flyover “was only meant to be a temporary structure” but has been there for well over 50 years.

“It is well past its sell-by-date and it needed complete reconstruction and rebuilding,” Mr Rosindell added.

“But unfortunately neither the mayor of London or the Government have invested the money that’s needed, and have instead decided to just basically rebuild the existing flyover rather than have a brand new junction.”

The former Conservative added: “Unfortunately, what we thought was going to be a few months of work has turned into a nightmare where this has gone on now for about 14 months.

“And because it’s such a major thoroughfare, the closure has disrupted the entire region – the whole of the east side of London and the whole of Essex.

“So anyone getting into London can’t get through this junction.

“And it’s caused calamity for my local constituency because what’s happened is that people are having to come off at that junction, go through small neighbourhoods and suburbs… It’s been calamitous.

“And it’s gone on and on and on.”

The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, has “not once visited”, he said, and has “showed no interest in the issue”.

The way TfL has handled things has been “diabolical” and “made far worse by Essex & Suffolk Walter, which, Mr Rosindell claimed, “didn’t do a proper survey in advance”.

He added: “This has been an economic disaster.

Local businesses are not getting the custom they should because people cannot get to them, and people cannot get their kids to school and visit their relatives, Mr Rosindell said. “The whole thing has been a complete nightmare,” the MP added.

He said he has raised the situation in the House of Commons and “with everyone possible there is to raise it with” but officials “don’t seem to care what’s happening”.

This is because his patch is on the edge of Greater London, Mr Rosindell believes.

He said: “We pay hundreds of millions of pounds into Greater London. We get very little for it.”

Conservative London Assembly Member and former London mayoral candidate, Susan Hall, said: “Every day that Gallows Corner remains closed, more taxpayer money is wasted whilst residents in Havering endure more miserable congestion on the doorsteps of their homes.

“This nonsense has gone on long enough – TfL needs to come clean about when this work will be completed and how much it has cost. If they had any sense, they’d do that as soon as possible.”

Motoring expert and founder of FairFuelUK, Howard Cox, said: “This Gallows Corner nightmare has crushed small local businesses and turned daily life into hell for residents and drivers. The local economy is being wrecked while the promised ‘safer junction’ remains a distant fantasy. TfL and Essex & Suffolk Water must ditch the excuses, work 24/7, and get these roads fully open – now.”

An Essex & Suffolk Water spokesperson said: “Gallows Corner is a Transport for London (TfL) project to replace the flyover in Romford.

As part of that project, TfL requested that we divert a strategic water main which supplies drinking water to hundreds of thousands of customers across the area.

This has been a highly complex engineering project, and our teams have been working as quickly and safely as possible while protecting these vital water supplies. We are on course to complete our work and leave site by the end of August.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “We know how deeply frustrating the situation at Gallows Corner continues to be for local residents, businesses and road users and we are very sorry for the ongoing disruption. We are working hard to complete the project as soon as possible, while ensuring infrastructure is safe and ready to enter service. This major strengthening and refurbishment work will allow the structure to continue providing reliable and safe transport for decades to come.

“Extensive surveys of the area were carried out ahead of work starting on this complex project and we’ve worked closely with Essex and Suffolk Water to manage the challenging and technically complex work that has resulted from the issues with the water mains in the area.”

The authority says it will “need to complete final works before we can reopen the road network” after the site is handed over to it by ESW.

The Express contacted Sir Sadiq Khan for comment.

On July 21, the Mayor said: “Transport for London (TfL) has been working closely with Essex & Suffolk Water (E&SW), which is carrying out associated water main replacement and diversion works as part of the project. E&SW is currently undertaking complex remedial works to a newly installed water main, including repairs, testing and final connections.

“TfL and E&SW are working hard to complete the project as soon as possible, while ensuring infrastructure is safe, fully assured and ready to enter service. Complex work remains, but ESW currently expects to complete its works and hand the site back to TfL by the end of August. Following this, TfL will need to undertake final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before the road network can fully reopen.

“TfL will provide a confirmed reopening date as soon as there is sufficient certainty around the remaining programme of works and will continue to keep local stakeholders updated.”