TRANSPORT bosses have published the masterplan they hope will avert traffic chaos during next year’s Olympic Games.
Key routes into and out of the area will be blocked to general traffic during the Olympic period next July and August in an attempt to keep access clear for competitors and officials.
Among them will be the west-bound slipway from the Green Man roundabout to the A12 in Wanstead, and the east-bound exit from the Redbridge roundabout onto Redbridge Lane East.
But the extensive list of diversions published by Transport for London (TfL) makes no provision for drivers trying to join the roads at those roundabouts.
Taxi driver Mark Thurbin, of Malborough Road in Clayhall, said: “It will cause absolute chaos. They’re thinking about what would be good for the athletes and officials but what about the people who will be wanting to see the spectacle?
“A lot of cab drivers are thinking it will be impossible to work during the Olympics.”
Peter Rowe, 56, of Chestnut Drive in Wanstead is among residents worried that traffic from the Green Man will spill over into the residential roads of South Woodford.
“It’s going to be hell,” he said.
“There’s going to be so much traffic that there would be problems even if there weren’t closures there.”
Eastbound traffic approaching Charlie Brown’s roundabout on the A406 will be diverted south down the A406 before joining Eastern Avenue at the Redbridge roundabout.
And diversions will be in place as far south as the Blackwall Tunnel to reduce the amount of traffic approaching Redbridge roundabout from the east.
The A12 Eastern Avenue in Wanstead forms part of the 109-mile Olympic Route Network on which Olympic traffic will be given priority, and a Games Lane reserved for the use of VIPs will start just south of the Green Man roundabout.
The restriction at the Green Man will apply between 6am and 11am every day, while the one at the Redbridge roundabout will be in place between midnight and midday.
TfL have been asked to comment.
