Road changes ahead of the Paralympics - don't get caught out

With just seven days until the Paralympics begins, operators are being warned of changes to the road network.

Work to create the Paralympic Route Network (PRN) starts this weekend. It will take place over four nights between the hours of 9pm and 6am, commencing Saturday 25 August through to Tuesday 28 August.

Games Lanes will not become operational until 6am on Wednesday 29 August so drivers can use the lanes until this point. 

Once complete, the PRN will measure 36 miles, of which 8.7 miles will be Games Lanes.

Games Lanes will be installed in the following locations:

• Southwark Bridge to Leamouth Roundabout via Upper/Lower Thames Street, Tower Hill, The Highway, Limehouse Link, Aspen Way
• A102 Blackwall Tunnel Southern Approach
• Shooters Hill Road (Greenwich Park and Royal Artillery Barracks approaches)
• Millennium Way (North Greenwich Arena approach)
• A12 Blackwall Tunnel Northern Approach
• Olympic Park approaches

Games Lanes will be opened to general traffic if demand from Paralympic vehicles is low.

Parking and access restrictions will apply in the areas around Paralympic venues, and as during the Olympics, Vehicle Permit Checkpoints will be in place to enforce the restrictions. 

Paralympic venues where parking and access restrictions will apply are:

• Olympic Park, Newham
• ExCeL, Newham
• North Greenwich Arena, Greenwich
• Greenwich Park, Greenwich
• Royal Artillery Barracks, Greenwich

Additionally, restrictions will be in place on Sunday 9 September for the Marathon events.

Ben Plowden, director of planning for surface transport at Transport for London, says: “We worked very closely with freight operators and London’s businesses to make sure that London kept moving during the Olympic Games, and we are very grateful that so many took our advice on board. The feedback from the industry has been really positive, and by planning their routes, amending delivery times and adopting the Code of Practice for out-of-hours deliveries, operators were able to make deliveries without problems, ensuring that London’s businesses continued to receive goods and services.

“In just a weeks time we host the world’s second biggest sporting event, the Paralympic Games, and we’d encourage all operators to continue to keep up-to-date with the latest information during the Paralympics through freight@tfl.gov.uk.”

Peter Larner, MD of Suckling Transport, says: “I think the Paralympics represent a different problem; you have to remember that the schools were off during the Olympic Games but will be back for the second half of the Paralympics. The industry needs to stay focused and not ease up.”