Gallows Corner flyover to close if TfL doesn’t receive support

The Gallows Corner flyover might be shut (Credit: Google Maps)

Transport for London has warned the Gallows Corner flyover could be closed if it doesn’t receive more financial support. 

The transport operator might not be able to pay for the renewal or maintenance of the flyover as it looks to fill a potential £1.3 billion funding gap.

It has been facing a financial crisis ever since the Covid pandemic caused passenger numbers to drop by 95 per cent on trains and 85 per cent on buses overnight. 

A new report has been released outlining cuts TfL might have to make once emergency funding support from the government stops on Saturday, 11 December 2021.

TfL is now preparing a “Managed Decline” strategy which will stop all new investment in London’s transport network and only projects that are already underway will be completed. 

As a result, the Gallows Corner flyover could be shut and congestion could become significantly worse in the area. The Rotherhithe Tunnel might also be closed. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is calling on the government to provide TfL with more financial support. 

“Unless the Government provides the long-term funding needed to maintain our public transport network, there will be no choice but to make significant cuts to services just as demand is growing again,” said Mr Khan. 

“This would mean fewer, less frequent and more run-down bus and tube services for Londoners, making it more difficult to travel around the city. It would also mean more road and tunnel closures due to a lack of funding to maintain key transport infrastructure.

“The widespread disruption and gridlock all these changes would cause would not only unfairly punish millions of Londoners for the impact of the pandemic on TfL’s finances, but would put the national economic recovery at risk.”

TfL has also warned the “Managed Decline” approach would not be enough to resolve the funding gap alone. 

“We will also have to reduce service levels across our network, reduce borough funding, implement asset financing options, and negotiate the rephasing of repayments of the Crossrail £750m loan from the Department for Transport,” said a statement in the report. 

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