TfL Says Its ‘Very Sorry’ For Gallows Corner Delays As Council Leader Demands It Opens In October.

Transport for London (TfL) says it is “very sorry” for the continued delays in reopening Gallows Corner, as Reform demands it reopen in the coming months, writes local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann.

After a recent meeting, Havering Council’s new leader Keith Prince said he was “challenging them” to reopen the long-closed flyover and roundabout by October.

Gallows Corner, in Romford, is being totally rebuilt by TfL – which it says will improve journey times and road safety – but the project has repeatedly run aground due to complex ground issues and utility works.

The transport body missed the deadline of April after issues with water pipes were identified by Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW), but TfL now says it will hand the site back by the end of August.

A spokesperson for TfL told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We are working hard to complete the project as soon as possible, while ensuring infrastructure is safe and ready to enter service. Complex work remains, but Essex & Suffolk Water currently expects to complete its works and hand the site back to us by the end of August.

“Following this, we will need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before we can fully reopen the road network.

“We know how deeply frustrating this situation continues to be for local residents, businesses and road users and we are very sorry for the ongoing disruption.

“We remain focused on completing the remaining work safely and as quickly as possible, while protecting vital water supplies.”

All major TfL groundworks have been completed and work is progressing on repairing the troublesome water pipe, the body says.

Cllr Prince says that TfL expects to be finished by September, but he doubts it due to the possibility of further delays and considers October more realistic.

Work began on Gallows Corner last March and was originally scheduled to be completed by September.

After the previous council administration branded the continued delays a “farce,” more than 1,900 residents signed a petition demanding compensation.

They said they “no longer had compensation in TfL’s assurances” and had reached a “breaking point,” and requested a partial council tax refund for each month beginning September 2025.

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