London 2012: Plans for Olympic Route Network set out

Sarah Shaffi, Olympics editor (news) Tuesday, June 12, 2012
8:41 AM

Motorists are being told to avoid central London from mid-July, when work will begin on the Olympic Route Network (ORN).

Transport for London (TfL) today set out detailed plans for the implementation and operation of the ORN, a 109-mile network of roads linking Games venues in London. Motorists will be able to use some lanes on these roads at all times, while others will be open only at certain times of the day.

Among the 109 miles will be 30 miles of Games Lanes, for the exclusive use of vehicles carrying the Games Family, which includes athletes, officials and media.

London’s transport commissioner Peter Hendy said: “During the Games, London will be turned into a massive sporting and cultural venue. We have plans in place to get all athletes, officials and the world’s media to their Games events on time and to keep London moving and open for business.

“From-mid July, central London and areas around Games venues will be much busier than usual.

“The ORN, which is part of the Host City contract for the Games, will be a vital part of managing the busy roads and delivering a great Games.

“Our advice to motorists is clear. From mid-July, avoid driving in central London, around the ORN and Games venues.”

The ORN will come into force on July 25, and will end a couple of days after the Games. The smaller Paralympic route Network (PRN) will be in operation from a couple of days before the start of the Paralympic Games.

Onces Games events are completed at venues, such as Wimbledon, the ORN will be removed.

From July 1 road marking will start to be put down along the ORN, and adjustment to more than 1,300 sets of traffic lights will also begin on the same date.

TfL says these adjustments will have minimal impact on road users as they will be balanced out by the complete ban on all planned road works along the ORN and on all A and B roads.

From July 7 there will be a reversal of traffic flow in Kingsway Tunnel, Aldwych. Traffic through the tunnel will temporarily flow southbound only through this link of the ORN, which will aid movement between the media hub in Bloomsbury and Games venues.

The temporary reversal will be removed in mid August after the Olympic Games, and is not required for the Paralympic Games.

From July 16 the M4 Games Lane will come into operation as athletes, officials and media begin to arrive in London in significant numbers.

The major, physical ORN build and implementation works begin on July 20, and will take four days. These works will include the installation of barriers to simplify junctions.

Overnight on July 24 the designated standalone pedestrian crossings and parking/loading bays along the ORN will be suspended and blocked off.

The ORN and the Games Lanes will be in operation and will be enforced from 6am to midnight from July 25.

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys using the Get Ahead of the Games website.