Ealing’s Labour-run council has begun work to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety by transforming the Uxbridge road junction with Church road in Hanwell.

The works have started with the introduction of a mini-roundabout; zebra crossings will be installed on Church Road and St George’s Road this week. Signalled pedestrian [Green Man] crossings will be installed by early March, as soon as is possible, on either side of the roundabout on Uxbridge road.

Local Labour MPs and Hanwell councillors accompanied Cllr Bassam Mahfouz, Labour’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, on a visit to the site on Saturday to look at how the works were progressing and sought to bring forward the delivery of the safe crossings on each arm.

Councillor Mahfouz said:

“Campaigners in Hanwell have been calling for a safer crossing at this junction for years and I have been committed to overturn the rejections we have had in the past from Transport for London to install them.  I am delighted that after years of work my promise to make this this busy junction safer will come to fruition as well as making the traffic flow improve.

“I have seen how replacing traffic lights with roundabouts has cut queuing times in other parts of the borough, and it is already helping at this junction. Even when the signalled crossings are in place and working, the switch to a roundabout will keep the traffic flowing, but not at the expense of the crucial safety of pedestrians.”