London Road is closed to road traffic between, so far as I can see, Dartmouth Road and somewhere above Sainsbury's. When I walked past half an hour ago there was a large mechanical drill being manoeuvred into position outside Sainsbury's. Dartmouth Road already clogged by diverted traffic. Anyone know what's going on?

This is part of the new plan for pedestrianisation of London Road during weekends*. It makes the cafes on London Road much more peaceful.

It is closed from Manor Mount to Barclays so you can still slip down Davids Road to avoid traffic jams on Dartmouth or Devonshire Roads.

* Only kidding, it just seems to be temporary. I'm not sure what they are doing but it seems to be focused on the pedestrian crossing.

The BBC traffic report has the following

I hope it stays dry in the mornings for the next week - it's going to be far more pleasant cycling to work than getting a bus since they'll all be caugt up in diversions[/quote]...

From the Thames Water website:

SE23: The A205 (South Circular) London Road near Sainsbury's supermarket is currently closed in both directions while we carry out emergency repairs to a collapsed sewer running under the road.

According to the workmen, it will be closed for one to two weeks because the sewer has collapsed 4m down.

It's really quiet without the sirens going past all the time.

Time for a street party?

I quite like the peace and calm..........

Bet the people on the diversion route are not liking it too much though.

I think some of the shops in Dartmouth Road will benefit and people who never drive that way will discover the beginnings of our long awaited pool
Will probably have forgotten it again by the time it's ready though

According to the BBC London website

"A Thames Water spokesman said assessments had been undertaken and rebuilding work would take place over the next two weeks.

The road is closed both ways between Sydenham Hill and Dartmouth Road.

The spokesman said a diversion was in place but drivers should expect some disruption.

He said: "The rebuild of this section of sewer is expected to take about two weeks."

Ouch, two weeks! Think I'll be using Sydenham Station instead until London Road re-opens.

Buses are also seriously affected (TfL don't have this info):

176 and 197 are not serving London Road or Dartmouth Road instead running fast from Kirkdale to Lordship Lane avoiding FH.

356 is not serving London Road, Sydenham Rise or Kirkdale between Sydenham Hill and The Woodman. This bus is on diversion along Dartmouth Road from The Woodman to FH Station.

185 is not serving London Road and is diverted from FH station via Dartmouth Road, Kirkdale and Sydenham Hill to Lordship Lane.

P4 is also diverted via Sydenham Hill, Kirkdale and Dartmouth Road, however I can't confirm it it's running along Devonshire Road to HOP or running as the 122 via Stanstead Road to Brockley Rise.

122 is running a normal service.

Towards Lewisham, the P4 diverts up Sydenham Hill to the top, around the roundabout, back down and turns right into Sydenham Rise and then right into London Road and left into Honor Oak Road. I presume buses towards Brixton do this in the reverse direction.

That makes sense, although the diversion signs in that area still have it going down Kirkdale and Dartmouth Road.

I hope that's the case as Honor Oak Road shouldn't lose it's bus service.

I drive into Sainsburys car park from S C anyone know how I can do my weekly shop there by car now?

P.S. Street party please!!

I was going to suggest using Manor Mount to get to the car park, but it's one way going UP the hill towards Honor Oak Road isn't it?

Lottie - if you shop by car, I suggest you use the Sainsburys in Lower Sydenham until it's sorted.

How are Sainsburys and indeed all the businesses on that stretch of the South Circular going to get their deliveries for the next few weeks?

Waldenshaw Road is open and you can access it from London Road, so anybody can drive to Sainsburys car park (free for 2 hours) and enjoy the new pedestrianized zone in the centre of Forest Hill.

It will be interesting to see the effect of the road closure has on Dartmouth Road, Ewelme Road, Sydenham Hill, Sydenham Road, etc. If the effect is not too serious (particularly at weekends) it would be wonderful to do this once a year for Forest Hill Day and have music and entertainment from the station up to the Horniman!

I hope that as it's the school summer holidays, Dartmouth Road won't be snarled up tomorrow morning with traffic on diversion from Dulwich.

I'm tempted just to walk from home to FH station enjoying the relative lack of noise along London Road tomorrow.

So how far up the road is it closed? Some reports say Waldenshaw, some say Sydenham Hill and some say Sydenham Rise?

If Waldenshaw is open, and accessible from London Road as Michael says, then why is the P4 diverted? It should just be able to run past the Horniman as usual since Honor Oak Road is further north than Waldenshaw. Can't quite see why it needs to divert up the hill?

rbmartin, fingers crossed it won't be too bad BUT there have been roadworks between Court Lane and Dulwich Library for the last week and I've found the traffic queues there surprising given that it's school holidays. I'd suggest it's probably worth allowing some extra time for any journeys involving that route until this is resolved.

This evening we drove southwards down Honor Oak Road to the South Circular without problems. Temporary sign at the botton saying no left turn (we turned right, and then left up Sydenham Rise), but in fact traffic was moving eastwards along the South Circular (i.e. in the direction of FH station) and appeared to be then turning left along Waldenshaw Road.