Drivers and residents across the London Borough of Merton are being warned to prepare for significant travel disruption throughout January and February 2026. A major programme of essential utility and highway works will lead to a series of road closures and temporary traffic management measures.
Major Roads and Longest Closure
The planned works will impact several key routes, including Merton High Street and Worple Road in Wimbledon, which will see temporary traffic lights installed at various times. The most extensive single project is on Willow Lane in Mitcham, which will be fully closed for approximately nine months, starting from 12 January 2026.
Multiple organisations are behind the schemes, including Merton Council, Thames Water, Transport for London (TfL), and utility companies like SGS. The works encompass water mains upgrades, gas network replacements, telecoms installations, and general road maintenance.
Area-by-Area Breakdown of Disruption
The following list details the planned works that will involve full road closures, lane restrictions, or temporary traffic signals. All information is based on data from Merton Council and One Network.
Morden
In Morden, gas works will cause temporary obstructions on Bayham Road (9 Feb - 9 Mar) and Bardney Road (16 Feb - 16 Mar), each expecting 15-minute delays. Emergency temporary lights on Martin Way for gas works are in progress until 6 January.
Mitcham and Pollards Hill
This area faces the most extensive programme. Alongside the lengthy Willow Lane closure for water works, multiple gas works will shut roads including Walnut Tree Avenue, De'arn Gardens, Taffy's How, and Pear Tree Close throughout February. Road works will also close Wide Way (8-9 Jan), Longthornton Road (12-23 Jan), and others. Temporary lights are scheduled for Commonside East and Streatham Road.
Colliers Wood and Merton
Key routes here will be affected by temporary lights: Colliers Wood High Street for water works (23-25 Feb) and Merton High Street for both water and road works at different times in January and February. Full closures include Pincott Road for electricity works (27-30 Jan) and several roads for gas and road works, such as Steers Mead, Hawkes Road, and Abbey Road.
Wimbledon and Raynes Park
Wimbledon will see significant gas works leading to prolonged closures on roads like Cambridge Road (until 27 Feb), Avenue Road (26 Jan - 27 Feb), and Leopold Road for electricity works (19 Jan - 27 Feb). Temporary lights will be in place on Wimbledon Hill Road, Worple Road, and Kingston Road. A notable closure is on West Barnes Lane first for gas works (9-27 Feb) and then for rail works overnight from 17-20 February.
Planning Ahead Advised
With such a concentrated schedule of infrastructure projects, commuters, bus users, and local residents are strongly advised to plan their journeys well in advance. The council recommends checking its official website and the One Network for real-time updates and any changes to the programme.
The scale of works highlights the ongoing investment in the borough's ageing utility networks and road surfaces. While the short-term impact will be considerable disruption, the long-term goal is improved water, gas, and transport infrastructure for Merton's communities.
