TfL pump out Boris propaganda for Hammersmith Question Time

Boris' appearance in Hammersmith this evening looks set to be marked by people particularly upset by their treatment at the hands of our Council - from West Kensington & Gibbs Green residents through to shop owners and traders of Shepherd's Bush Market set to be compulsorily demolished, so that in both cases property developers can move in to make their millions.

In fact ahead of Boris' appearance this evening he decided to put a stop to H&F's plan to do the same to the residents of King Street and around, so that, you guessed it, property developers could build some luxury flats.

What a coincidence, you may think, that Transport for London's press machine has decided on today of all days to hail some wonderful news about the Hammersmith flyover! Here's what the PR men want you know:

Hammersmith Flyover work to restore full traffic use continues apace

• Work to repair flyover on track to be completed well ahead of London 2012 Games
• First new tensioning cables to be installed during coming months
• Repairs will ensure flyover remains in use for many decades

The first key enabling works to allow the Hammersmith Flyover to be fully reopened to traffic have now been completed, Transport for London (TfL) announced today. 

The works, which began in January, have seen around 200m of the central reservation along the flyover removed in preparation for new tensioning cables to be installed which will support the structure. Using a number of specialist techniques including hydrodemolition and diamond cutting, around 140 tonnes of concrete have been removed by using both high pressurised water and a rotating cord impregnated with diamonds to cut the material away. These techniques meant that work could be carried out safely while traffic continued to use the flyover.

A team of engineers are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to complete the work, often in a crawl space far less than human height. Now the key enabling works have been completed, TfL will begin to install a new concrete base, drainage and tailored anchorages for the new cables within the structure. The design for the new post-tensioning system will see new cables installed above and below the bridge deck inside a specially made duct, which will supplement the load capacity of the remaining cables. 

The new ducts will then be filled with a wax oil to prevent deterioration from any water ingress, as well as enable the cables to be easily replaced as and when required. 

Work to strengthen the five weakest spans of the 16 span structure will be completed ahead of the 2012 Games, ensuring that the flyover can carry full traffic loading during the Games and for many decades to come. Following the Games, TfL will return to the structure to strengthen the remaining spans. This work however will not require further weight restrictions to be imposed and TfL hope to complete it with only off peak lane closures, causing much less disruption than is presently the case. 

Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport, said: “Our team are well aware of the major impact these works have in west London for road users and local people. That is why the engineers are working twenty four hours a day to get the job done. They are making good progress but while the restrictions are in place we will continue to have dedicated staff monitoring and managing the impact on traffic every hour of the day.”

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport at TfL, said: “We are continuing to work round the clock to implement a long term solution to restore the Hammersmith Flyover to full traffic capacity. With key enabling works now completed, work is now fully underway to install the new cabling system which will allow the structure to remain in use for many decades to come.”

Hallelujah! It's how the meejah works, folks.