Drivers ‘stuck in A3 traffic for 5 hours’ amid repairs to underpass wall

Drivers [1] have complained that they have been stuck in heavy traffic on the A3 in west London for up to five hours, after the section of the motorway was closed over fears about the safety of wall by an underpass. Since Friday afternoon there has been long delays on the A3 northbound road at the Tolworth Junction underpass after the inside and middle lanes were closed by Transport for London [2] (TFL). The organisation said it was forced to make the move because it fears the top layer of the wall, which is made from concrete, may crumble because its bonding has “degraded”.

It apologised for the disruption and said it working hard to ensure “vital” emergency repairs on the wall are completed by the middle of next week. In a statement it said: “Lane closures are necessary to ensure the safety of the infrastructure and people using it.” Among those who have been stuck in the traffic on the major road, which connects London and Portsmouth, is British actor Hugh Grant who claimed he had seen no work being carried out.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote yesterday: “Final rant about being stuck on the A3 coming into London today in a traffic jam that moved five miles in five hours.

“@TfL said they were doing ’emergency repair works’ near the Tolworth tunnel. But all day, drivers that finally made it there saw no work happening at all. Nor did I.

Nothing. Just a lot of cones. So that @TfL message was apparently not true.

I find I can’t let this this lie.” He also claimed as a result of the delays elderly ladies were forced to urinate in bushes and many children who had their journeys disrupted were howling. Another person who was caught in the delays also wrote on X: “Abandoned journey from Painshill to Tolworth on A3 this morning.

Finally got to Tolworth after 2 hours. Not a workman on the “emergency roadworks” to be seen. They are enjoying their bank holidays while our day is ruined.

Thanks @TfL.

Totally unacceptable.”

TFL said damage to the wall was spotted during an inspection by its maintenance team on Thursday.

References

^ Drivers (inews.co.uk)
^ Transport for London (inews.co.uk)