Drivers and bus users are being warned of delays until spring 2027 as construction work on the new Charlton to Woolwich cycleway begins this month.

Some preparatory work took place earlier this year, but the diggers will be moving in on September 29 to build the segregated two-way lane from Gallions Road in Charlton to the Woolwich Road roundabout.

When complete, there will be a segregated route, Cycleway 4, all the way from Tower Bridge to the Woolwich Ferry, although with a gap in Greenwich town centre, a scheme for which is being separately developed.

Until then, Transport for London is encouraging people to plan ahead and expect delays, particularly at the Woolwich Ferry roundabout.

Plans to build the route along Woolwich Road and Woolwich Church Street were outlined before the pandemic and approved in 2022. Timings were upended by the decision to install a cycle lane between Greenwich and Charlton during the Covid crisis, rather than waiting for the Woolwich section to be finished.

While the initial section of route runs on the north side of the A206, the new section to Woolwich will switch to the south side at Anchor & Hope Lane. Some sections of bus lane will be removed to accommodate the segregated route.

The main changes will be:

  • Additional pedestrian crossings, including at Mast Quay, Stone Lake Retail Park, and east of Anchor & Hope Lane – ending a situation that locals nickname the “dance of death” as people try to get from Charlton Church Lane to bus stops on the north side of Woolwich Road
  • A straight-across pedestrian crossing will be installed outside the Greenwich Trust School and Windrush Primary School to replace the staggered crossing
  • A segregated lane will be built on Anchor & Hope Lane
  • Southbound traffic will be banned from using the Charlton Lane level crossing to reduce the number of cars crossing the cycle lane there
  • Right turns will be banned at the A206/Kingsman Street junction in response to safety concerns

Wider pavements and better drainage are promised, as well as new trees and other vegetation.

TfL believes that the area around the cycle route is in the top 5 per cent of neighbourhoods where cycling could take off, particularly with new developments in Woolwich and planned for Charlton Riverside.

Work on a further extension, through Woolwich town centre and onto Plumstead, is due in 2027, which will include improving the crossings outside Woolwich Elizabeth Line station.

Scott Haxton, TfL’s director of capital delivery infrastructure, said: “We’re determined to make cycling in London safer and easier, and this section of Cycleway 4 is part of our plans to expand high-quality cycling infrastructure across the capital. Cycleway 4 will make walking and cycling much safer and easier for more people and will enable people to cycle to shops and amenities along the whole route.

“We’d like to thank local residents, visitors and businesses for their patience whilst construction work takes place and would encourage people in the area to plan ahead while work to create the route is under way.”

Calum O’Byrne Mulligan, Greenwich Council’s interim cabinet member for climate action, sustainability and transport, said: “I appreciate the inconvenience resulting from the road and lane closures to allow for this improvement, but these will be managed with well-signed diversion routes and are a necessary part of works to improve our cycling infrastructure so that residents can actively travel every day.” 

More details about the Cycleway 4 works are on the TfL website.

Story updated at 12.55pm with Greenwich Council quote.

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