The second and final stage of improvement works at Barking Station Forecourt began on 9 January. The works are expected to run until end of March 2012.
The works mean there is a need for a road closure in Barking Town Centre. Station Parade and Cambridge Road will be temporarily closed to all eastbound traffic going in the direction of the Longbridge Road roundabout (known locally as ‘The Catch’ roundabout) between Cambridge Road and Salisbury Avenue. The traffic diversion route will be the same as that adopted during the stage one road closure. Westbound traffic from the roundabout at Fanshawe Avenue along Station Parade and Cambridge Road will operate as normal.
The temporary restriction to eastbound traffic will also apply to vehicles leaving (i.e taking a right turn) from the Vicarage Field car park. The restriction will also require all vehicles leaving the Town Centre pedestrianised zone, and the Vicarage Field Service Area, to turn into Cambridge Road and head northbound. Traffic will be diverted around the Northern Relief Road for the duration of the closure.
The closure will be all day, seven days a week and is expected to be in place for a period of up to 12 weeks although every effort will be made during the construction period to reduce the duration of the temporary closure.
Two eastbound and one westbound bus stops will be closed while the road closure is in place. These include the eastbound bus stops directly outside the Station and eastbound bus stop further down Station Parade towards the Longbridge Road roundabout. The westbound stop directly opposite the station will also be temporarily closed during the works.
The nearest alternative eastbound bus stop is on the corner of Linton Road and London Road, a walking distance of 250m. The nearest alternative westbound bus stops which will temporarily replace the existing stops on the southern side of Station Parade (opposite the station are at the existing bus stop east of Salisbury Avenue (outside Domino Pizza).
High quality signage, in advance and throughout the works will ensure that pedestrians, at or near the station, have clear directions to the alternative temporary bus stops.
Key elements of the second, and final, phase of the works will include the following elements:
- Upgrading the paving to high quality material to match those used in the first phase of works and other parts of Barking Town Centre
- Providing new lighting columns to match those used in the main phase
- Providing two new short term parking bay drop-off points for people with disabilities
- Providing a loading bay on the south side of Salisbury Avenue (adjacent to the railway line) near the junction with Station Parade
- Providing new bus stops
- Providing new litter bins
Cllr Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “We are pleased to announce the start of the final phase of improvement works. Such works necessarily involve a degree of temporary disruption. The council will be working hard to ensure that these are kept to the very minimum and apologises in advance for any inconvenience caused. However, the improvements from the first phase of works are self-evident and have been warmly welcomed by many local people’’.