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Gallows Corner

The works taking place at Gallows Corner are part of a highly complex engineering project to replace the flyover in Romford, which is being led by Transport for London (TfL).

As part of this project, TfL requested that Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) divert a strategic water main to facilitate the safe completion of their works.

Start Date: June 2025

Estimated End Date: Under Review

Partners:

Overall programme of work delivered by Transport for London (TfL) and their partner Costain,

Essex & Suffolk Water have appointed Galliford Try to deliver the work on our water main.

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Project Updates

Project Updates

Project Updates

12 June 2025 23:00 - No end date

Keep up to date with the latest news, progress and upcoming work on our project.

40 issues

Community Hub Admin Team 2 weeks ago Good Morning, We’re pleased to share that our work at Gallows Corner is now complete. As promised in July, we'll be handing the site back to Transport for London (TfL) on 31 August so they can continue their flyover renewal programme. This has been a major project we were asked to deliver on behalf of TfL, involving the relocation of a strategic water main. Carrying out this work at one of London's busiest junctions has been far from straightforward and has required careful planning and engineering expertise to overcome challenging ground conditions, navigate existing infrastructure and work alongside the ongoing flyover renewal works, all within a tightly constrained and shared working environment. We know our work and the wider construction project has had a significant impact on residents, businesses and those travelling through the area. Delays, diversions and disruption have been part of daily life for many people over recent months, and we want to sincerely thank everyone for the patience and understanding they have shown throughout. While much of our activity has taken place below ground and out of sight, the scale of the engineering challenge should not be underestimated. Our teams, contractors and specialist partners have worked tirelessly to complete the work safely, protect critical infrastructure and maintain reliable water supplies for the local communities every step of the way. We are grateful to the local organisations, schools and community groups who have engaged with us throughout our work. Alongside the engineering works, we've supported a range of educational, employability and community initiatives, including our ongoing partnership with Youth Unity CIC, helping to create a positive legacy in the areas most affected by the works. Thank you again for your understanding and patience throughout this complex programme of works.

Community Hub Admin Team 3 weeks ago Good afternoonWe've completed all major milestones on the critical work to the new water main, this marks an important step towards the new pipe being commissioned.Pressure and water quality testing was successfully completed as expected last weekend, which meant this week (w/c 17 August) the water flow going into the original pipe was able to be switched over to the new pipe. This is a significant milestone that we are pleased to have reached. We have also backfilled the excavations on the Eastern Avenue and Southend Arterial Road.From Monday 24 August, the original pipe will be decommissioned and sealed. Working areas will be progressively returned to TfL during the week, in preparation for the planned full site handover on Monday 31 August, in line with the commitment made in July.We will then 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 and will provide a timeframe for this as soon as possible once the site has been handed back.To support this, four large vehicles will be travelling to our site on the morning of Monday 24 August. These vehicles will be fully escorted to ensure that speed limits are adhered to and that movements are managed safely and responsibly throughout the route.We appreciate that vehicle movements of this size may cause some temporary disruption but please be assured that these movements will be carefully managed, and we will do everything we can to minimise any inconvenience to residents.TfL contractors are also working to resolve reported drainage issues on the carriageway in the area which are not related to the water main works. Works are continuing this weekend and will be completed before surfacing works are carried outESW and TfL continue to work closely together and remain focused on completing the remaining works safely and efficiently, while protecting essential water supplies and moving towards restoring full access to the road network.We appreciate the continued patience and understanding of local residents, businesses and road users while this vital work is completed, and we are pleased to be moving into the final stage of the ESW programme.A further update will be provided next week.Thanks for your patience.The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 4 weeks ago Good afternoonOur team has made good progress on both sections of the works this week. Pressure and water quality testing are expected to be completed this weekend and excavations near the roundabout have also started to be backfilled. From next week, commencing 17 August, our team will begin making final preparations to commission the new main alongside ongoing reinstatement and clearing the site ready for handover to TfL at the end of August. TfL will then need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before they can fully reopen the road network, and they will provide a timeframe for this as soon as possible once the site has been handed back. We continue to work closely with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining works safely and efficiently, while protecting essential water supplies and moving towards restoring full access to the road network. We appreciate the continued patience and understanding of local residents, businesses and road users while this vital work is completed, and we are pleased to be moving into the final stages of our works within the programme.

Community Hub Admin Team 1 month ago Good afternoonThis week the complex installation of syphon has now been completed. On the eastern section, along Southend Arterial Road, testing and commissioning activities are now underway. On the western section, pressure testing is underway and following this testing and commissioning will start. The existing excavations on both Southend Arterial Road and Eastern Avenue will remain open while these final stages are completed. This is necessary to allow access for the final pipe connections and any adjustments identified during testing and commissioning before the new pipeline can be brought fully into service. We remain on track to hand the site back to TfL at the end of August. TfL will then carry out the final reinstatement and resurfacing works required before the road network can fully reopen. We continue to work closely with TfL closely together and remain focused on completing the remaining works as quickly and safely as possible, while protecting essential water supplies and restoring full access to the road network. We apologise for the continued disruption and thank local residents, businesses and road users for their patience while this vital infrastructure work is completed.

Community Hub Admin Team 1 month ago Good afternoonOur team has remained on track with the timelines discussed at the stakeholder site visit on 3 July and we can confirm that the complex repair part of our work will be completed in the coming days. This means we will be ready to move towards the testing and commissioning phase next week, before we hand the site back to TfL at the end of August. Following this, TfL will then need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before they can fully reopen the road network.Alongside our commissioning work, from next week our team will begin removing plant and materials from our working area.Throughout August, the excavations will remain open on Southend Arterial Road and Eastern Avenue, this is to allow for the final connections to be made at the end of the testing and commissioning phase.We continue to work closely with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining work as quickly and safely as possible, to allow TfL to restore full access to the road network while protecting vital water supplies.We are very sorry for the ongoing inconvenience caused by these works. All parties are working to complete the remaining activity with the least possible additional disruption.

Community Hub Admin Team 2 months ago Good afternoonThis week, the central section successfully passed the pressure test. This represents a significant milestone in the programme, marking a major step forward on one of the most complex and critical elements of the repair works. This is the section where our specialist teams have been working inside the pipe to complete the work. The crane has been on-site this week supporting the installation of the S-bend shaped pipe close to the roundabout and will be taken off-site next week. This section is being backfilled ready for pressure testing. Our team is continuing to work on the syphon section (a bend within the new water main around some existing infrastructure) under the sewer pipework near Eastern Avenue. The new part that was being manufactured off-site is planned to be installed next week. TfL remain responsible for the traffic management measures, including cones and barriers, and these will continue to be in place to keep road users and workers safe. TfL have carefully considered requests to amend or reduce these measures but have not identified any safe or practical opportunities to do so within the constraints of the site. The safety of the workforce and public remains our primary consideration, and TfL thank drivers and residents for their continued patience while we complete the remaining works. We continue to work closely with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining works as quickly and safely as possible, to allow them to work towards restoring full access to the road network and protecting vital water supplies. Complex work remains, but we currently expect to complete our works and hand the site back to TfL by the end of August. Following this, TfL will need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before they can fully reopen the road network. We are very sorry for the ongoing inconvenience caused by these works, which all parties are working to complete with the least possible amount of additional disruption. We will provide a further update next week

Community Hub Admin Team 2 months ago Good Afternoon,This week, our team have been working in the tunnel section, which is near the roundabout, to complete the internal repairs. Once complete, this section of the pipe will be pressure tested. As much of this work is taking place inside the pipe, the workforce may not always be visible from the surface.The crane that arrived last week will remain on site near the tunnel section over the coming week, supporting work to install the new pipe.Progress has been made on the syphon (a bend within the new water main around some existing infrastructure) which has been excavated. Our team is now carrying out a detailed laser scan to capture the dimensions needed for the bespoke connecting section of the pipework, which will be specially manufactured off site before being installed to complete the connection.We continue to work closely with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining works as quickly and safely as possible, allowing TfL to progress restoring full access to the road network and protecting vital water supplies. Complex work remains, but we currently expect to complete our work and hand the site back to TfL by the end of August.Following this, TfL will need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before, they can fully reopen the road network.We are very sorry for the ongoing inconvenience caused by these works, which all parties are working to complete with the least possible amount of additional disruption.We will provide a further update next week.

Community Hub Admin Team 2 months ago Good afternoonThis week we have continued to progress with our repair work and testing on the newly installed water main at Gallows Corner. Temporary sheet piling works have now been completed, enabling excavation activities to continue in line with the programme. Further progress has also been achieved, with testing activities successfully completed in the roundabout section.Now that this section has passed pressure testing, a crane will be arriving on site alongside large excavators to remove the shale and pipework in the launch pit. By removing this, our team will be able to access the tunnel to progress the remaining repairs in this section. Alongside this, we will be progressing works to replace and test the section of pipework where a defect has been identified. The work is continuing in the current working area next to the roundabout, and no changes are expected to the current road access. We continue to work closely with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining works as quickly and safely as possible, so TfL can restore full access to the road network whilst protecting vital water supplies. We are very sorry for the ongoing inconvenience caused by these works, which all parties are working to complete with the least possible amount of additional disruption.TfL will provide a further update next week.Thank you,The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 2 months ago Hi everyone, ESW & TfL 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 we currently expect to complete our works and hand the site back to TfL by the end of August. Following this, TfL will need to complete final reinstatement and resurfacing works in the area where work has been taking place before they can fully reopen the road network.ESW will continue to carry out our remaining works, which includes complex remedial works in the tunnel and carrying out testing to confirm that the repair is complete.The replacement of a section of pipework is also underway as we shared last week, and testing will be carried out to ensure this has rectified the identified defect.Once the above work has been completed, our final testing and cleansing of the new main will take place, including the final connections to our network. It is at this stage we will hand the site back to TfL.We are very sorry for the ongoing inconvenience caused by these works, which all parties are working to complete with the least possible amount of additional disruption.TfL will provide a final completion date, once they are in a position to do so.You can find the most up to date information from TfL here: Project updates and travel advice.Thank you, The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 3 months ago Hi everyone, We would like to provide an update on the water main diversion at Gallows Corner.We are continuing to progress repair work on the newly installed water main at Gallows Corner. This is a complex repair, and work is already underway within the existing area where there is access to the pipe network. From Saturday 27 June, we will start to remove part of the pipe that needs to be replaced. This work will take place in the current working area next to the roundabout, and no changes are expected to the current road access. Some repair work will also continue underground, as well as off-site work to manufacture the specialist components needed to complete the repair. We are aware that references to a mid-October completion date have been shared online. We are working hard to complete the repairs ahead of this timescale, but we are not yet in a position to confirm a final date and want to avoid sharing information that may later change. We continue to work closely together with TfL and remain focused on completing the remaining works as quickly and safely as possible, restoring full access to the road network and protecting vital water supplies. Thank you, The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 3 months ago Hi everyone, We appreciate it has been a little while since we last shared an update with you and we are now in a position to provide you with some additional information on the current status of the programme. We have now completed the testing required to identify the additional areas of work needed on the newly installed water main. This has been a challenging and technically complex process, during which damage to the water main has been identified after the initial installation phase.Work is now already underway to progress the necessary repairs, including sourcing additional materials and mobilising specialist resources. These activities will continue within the existing section of the road where access has already been established to reach the pipes beneath the carriageway. As much of the work will continue to take place underground, specialist teams may not always be visible at street level.Throughout the programme, we have remained focused on carrying out the work safely and efficiently. This approach has been essential in protecting vital water supplies.We will continue to work closely with Transport for London (TfL) and remain focused on completing the remaining works and restoring full access to the road network as quickly as possible.Thank you,The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 4 months ago Good Afternoon,Here is the latest update from our water main diversion at Gallows Corner.Our teams are working extremely hard around the clock to complete testing and commissioning of the water pipe. The fast-paced and significant work the teams have carried out so far means TfL can partially re-open the junction.On Sunday 10 May 2026, Gallows Corner will partially reopen to general traffic.Drivers will be able to travel through the area via: A12 Eastern Avenue eastbound and the roundabout Flyover from A12 Eastern Avenue East to A127 Southend Arterial Road eastbound only Straight Road in both directions and the roundabout Roundabout and A12 Colchester Road eastbound only Main Road in both directions and the roundabout The following roads remain closed to traffic and diversions remain in place: No access from the roundabout onto A12 Eastern Avenue East No access from A12 Colchester Road to the roundabout No access from the roundabout onto A127 Southend Arterial Road No flyover access from A127 Southend Arterial Road to A12 Eastern Avenue East Bus routes via Gallows Corner (routes 174, 496, 498 and 499) may experience delays of up to five minutes. Travel advice Anyone driving through the area should plan ahead and leave more time for their journey Drivers travelling long-distance westbound in the area should continue to re-route via the M25 and use the M11 and A13 to complete their journeys Bus users should plan ahead, allow more time for your journey and check before you travel on TfL’s website. The road network at and around Gallows Corner is expected to be very busy and subject to queues and delays to journeys. Customers who have contacted us via the community hub will receive a response by the end of next week. Thank you again for your patience.

Community Hub Admin Team 5 months ago Hi everyone,Here's the latest update from our water main diversion at Gallows Corner. All significant TfL works at Gallows Corner junction are now complete. In recent weeks, Essex & Suffolk Water (ESW) has also completed its construction activities and had begun testing the new water main. The testing process identified some additional work that will be completed this week. Following this, TfL will undertake the final works to allow the road network to fully open.TfL and ESW are working closely together to assess whether parts of the road could reopen sooner while the remaining work continues. Further safety and technical checks are required before this can be confirmed, and these checks are being carried out as quickly as possible. We recognise the disruption this work is causing for people travelling through the area, as well as local residents and businesses, and we thank everyone for their continued patience. Completing this work properly is essential to protecting water supplies in the area. Our teams are working from 7am to 7pm with some extended hours up to 10pm to make sure we complete this as soon as possible. TfL and ESW remain focused on progressing the remaining work and reopening the road as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you, as always, for your continued patience while we carry out this complex work.

Community Hub Admin Team 5 months ago Hi everyone,We wanted to share a quick update from our team carrying out the water pipeline diversion work at Gallows Corner.Work continues on the final testing of the large pipeline, and we remain on track with the smaller pipeline diversion work, which will further enable the newly-diverted network to be brought into use.As always, we’re grateful for your patience and understanding while we work towards completion of this complex project. Thank you.

Community Hub Admin Team 5 months ago Hi everyone,We’re entering the critical final phases on our water main diversion work at Gallows Corner.At the end of this week, we anticipate starting the commissioning work to ensure that the large main is ready to be connected into the existing main, via the connection points previously installed.This will see the water main undergo final testing for resilience and quality before being put into supply (note: individual sections have been individually tested as they have been built). Should we encounter any concerns, we have time built into our programme to enable us to resolve these.Away from the large pipe, the smaller ‘distribution main’ we have been working on is in the ground and ready to be disinfected and sampled, before going into supply. This means that we are nearing the end of the current period of 24-hour working.Some shorter periods of 24-hour activity may be required at the end of the commissioning of the larger pipe, to restore the working area and grout the old main, as part of its decommissioning. We will let customers living nearby know if and when this will be required.Thank you as always for your patience and understanding while we have worked on this project, within the larger flyover project.The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 5 months ago Hi everyone,Here’s the latest update from our water main diversion at Gallows Corner.The construction of the connection blocks at the east and west of the site continues this week, with further concrete pours taking place.Work in the drive and reception pits for the earlier tunnelling is now complete and we will complete the reinstatement of those and hand those areas back to Costain later this week.Excavation for the final smaller pipe is complete, and this will be constructed this week ahead of conditioning work to get that pipe ready to be put into use. This will be followed by the work needed to decommission the abandoned element of that distribution main.This will continue to include night time working that requires the area to be lit, for safety purposes, and we appreciate your understanding of the importance of this.Overall, we remain on track for completion within the revised timescale.Thank you as always for your patience.The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 6 months ago Hi everyone,We’re continuing our work at Gallows Corner to strengthen local water resilience.Here’s the latest on what’s happening on site, work is ongoing at both the west and east connection pits. On the west side, concrete pours and steelwork are progressing as planned. On the east side, the team is working at full pace with excavation, blinding and the lower base pour completed. The top half will be poured this week , with new parts for the connection to be welded in place.The final distribution main diversion along the A127 Eastbound has begun. To keep disruption to a minimum and accelerate progress, some of this work will take place at night on weekdays and selected weekends throughout March. This activity is focused near local businesses rather than homes.We will continue to keep you updated with our progress.

Community Hub Admin Team 6 months ago Hi everyone,We’re continuing to make strong progress in these final stages of our water main diversion work, within the wider Gallows Corner flyover project, and we remain in line with the programme for completion.This week, we have welcomed a second nightshift team to site. This will allow us to further maximise the potential to carry out work that can be done through the night, while being careful to remain within the noise restrictions in place on the project.Two of the largest pieces of work currently underway are focused around the connections at the far east and far west of the new pipeline.Having already installed the connection points, we have been excavating at both sides to be able to complete these pieces of work.Going has been tough, with some unanticipated challenges, including heavy clay in both excavations and spatial restrictions preventing the use of the large excavators, requiring the team to dig down by hand. Additionally, we discovered an uncharted underground concrete wall in the eastern side, which we had to remove.However, we have managed to do this while remaining on track.The launch and reception pits that were used during the recent tunnelling work have been largely backfilled, awaiting the final pieces of pipework that are required for those connections. Due to the way the new pipeline has been constructed, in separate phases that need connecting, rather than in a linear manner, the two connecting pieces have had to be specially manufactured, and we anticipate those to be in place in the coming days.We will continue to keep you updated, and, as always, thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete these works.

Community Hub Admin Team 6 months ago Good morning,We’re into March and work continues to progress towards completion of our water mains diversion work at Gallows Corner.Further work is continuing towards the connections within the pits at either end of the tunnelled phase of pipes. Once that is done, these will be refilled.Excavations are also progressing for work on thrust blocks for the main connections on the larger pipe. Thrust blocks are structures that help ensure the stability of the pipes.We have an extra crew joining the team this week, adding to those already on site, to do the final work on the remaining smaller pipe. This will include some night time working, but this will be away from homes and we will monitor noise levels to ensure we remain within permitted levels and minimise disruption.Thank you as always for your patience during this complex project.The Project Team

Community Hub Admin Team 7 months ago Good morning,Following the completion of the two “under pressure” connections last week, work continues to press ahead in the final stages of our water main diversion project at Gallows Corner.Further work is taking place on the connections between the stretches of pipework that will ultimately comprise the new main, including at either end of the section where we tunnelled beneath existing utilities and structures. Once those connections are done, the pits at either end will start to be re-filled.As we continue to make progress in line with the revised programme, we will keep you updated.Thank you, as always, for your continued patience while we carry out this complex work.

Community Hub Admin Team 7 months ago Hi all,We wanted to bring you the latest from site, as we work through the remaining crucial elements of our water main diversion work at Gallows Corner.You may have seen the updates from TfL on the overall programme earlier this week.In that, we highlighted a number of vital and complex stages that we needed to get past, to help us keep on track for completion of our work, within the overall Gallows Corner programme. These pieces of work need to be carried out with the greatest care, to ensure we maintain water supplies for the communities served by this part of the network, and to leave behind a reliable and resilient water pipe, once this project is complete.The first two of these pieces of work were connections into the existing pipework. These had to be carried out “under pressure”, which means drilling into that large water main while water was still passing through it.Our aim was to carry out these two connections by late February, and we are pleased to say that they were both completed this week.This allows us to continue pressing ahead with the construction of large, reinforced anchor blocks, which will protect the main once it is in operation, and the pipe testing processes that will follow.We will continue to liaise closely with all partners on site to complete this complex piece of engineering. Thank you, as always, for our patience and understanding.

Community Hub Admin Team 8 months ago Good afternoon,We wanted to share a quick update from the water main diversions works at Gallows Corner.We’re continuing to work closely with TfL and their team, to ensure that the programmes align in the final phases of work.Over the weekend, we completed the installation of the 14 lengths of pipe inside the micro tunnel, ahead of schedule, and testing will follow on that stretch over the coming days.We’ve also completed the connection on the stretch of pipe furthest west on the A12, and, following backfilling of the excavation we will be finished in that area.Other connection work continues, ahead of the testing and commissioning work to prepare the pipe to be put into use.The focus across the teams working on site is on ensuring the remaining work is delivered safely and efficiently, and with the care required to ensure we deliver a resilient pipeline and water supply for customers now and in future generations.Thank you as always for your continued patience, while we carry out this complex piece of engineering.

Community Hub Admin Team 8 months ago Hi everyone,We wanted to bring you up to date on our water main diversion at Gallows Corner.At the weekend, we completed the tunnelling work to install the penultimate stretch of pipes, and the final stretch, which is being installed using the more traditional “trench” method, is nearing completion.Work continues towards carrying out the connections, bringing these new stretches of pipes together with each other and with the existing main into which they connect. The pipeline will then undergo a period of commissioning and testing, ready to be put into use.We also wanted to provide some assurance for customers in the Heath Drive area, where we understand there to be some concerns regarding traffic movement. While we are talking either directly or via Costain to those customers who have raised the matter, we wanted to assure people that we continue to remind all drivers in our supply chain to remain within the 20mph speed limit. While there will be small pockets of time when there will be some increase in vehicular movements, overall you should see a gradual decrease is in vehicles from our work as we move towards completion.We continue to work closely with TFL and our onsite partners – as we have throughout this project - to finish the work according to the revised schedule and we are appreciative of customers’ and motorists’ patience while the work continues.

Community Hub Admin Team 7 months ago

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