Frustrated residents in Havering are demanding compensation after Transport for London (TfL) once again postponed the reopening of Gallows Corner. The busy A12 roundabout and flyover has been closed since June 23, 2025, and was expected to reopen by the end of April 2026. However, TfL announced over the weekend that an issue connecting the water main beneath the interchange has made this deadline impossible.
Petition Gains Nearly 2,000 Signatures
A Change.org petition launched in March calling for the immediate reopening of Gallows Corner has garnered almost 2,000 signatures. The petition’s organizer, Liz O'Grady, is also urging for affected residents to receive a partial council tax refund dating back to September 2025, when the route was originally slated to reopen. O'Grady stated that the Havering community has "reached breaking point," with Ardleigh Green and surrounding roads particularly suffering from congestion and potholes.
Timeline of Delays
In February 2026, TfL provided a clear roadmap for the reopening, including specific repair schedules and a target completion date of end of April. Now, the transport authority says it will reopen "as soon as possible" but has not provided a new date. This marks nearly a full year since the closure began.
Business Impact
Dave Thompson, owner of Rapid Mechanical Services located near the roundabout, was forced to close his business in February due to financial losses caused by the closure. "It's been a sham from day one," he said. "Business has been going down since June. People don't want to come into the area, and couriers are struggling to deliver parts – they used to come every day, now it's once a week. We've gone down by 67 percent. The business can't sustain itself any longer." He added that compensation, if any, would be too little and too late.
TfL Apologizes
Scott Haxton, TfL’s Director of Capital Delivery, apologized for the disruption: "All significant TfL works at Gallows Corner have now been completed, and Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) has also made progress. During testing, ESW identified further work needed to ensure the water main is fully assured. We are working together to expedite this vital work and exploring a partial reopening in the meantime. We are very sorry for the further disruption and remain committed to confirming an opening date as soon as possible."
