Major Westway Closure Set to Bring Severe Disruption
A4 Lane restrictions at same time add further pressure
An aerial view of a roundabout on the Westway. Picture: TfL
March 10, 2026
West London is preparing for one of its most disruptive periods of roadworks in years as Transport for London confirms a series of extensive closures on the A40 Westway. The works, which involve replacing safety-critical joints on the elevated section between the Westway Roundabout and Marylebone Flyover a full shutdown of the route for more than a month, and further weekend restrictions into the summer.
The disruption is expected to be intensified by ongoing lane closures on the A4 near Chiswick Roundabout, which will limit the capacity of the main diversion route normally used when the A40 is congested.
TfL says the Westway works are essential to ensure the structure remains safe. The A40 is one of London’s busiest strategic roads, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles each day between the M40 corridor and central London. The closures will begin in January and continue until July, with the most severe disruption occurring during a full closure of both carriageways in March and April.
The first phase of the programme ends on Monday 16 March, during which the A40 was closed eastbound every weekend from 10pm on Fridays until 5am on Mondays.
The most significant disruption will occur from 10pm on Friday 20 March until late April , when the A40 will be fully closed in both directions at all times between the Westway Roundabout and Marylebone Flyover. This closure includes the Marylebone Flyover and will remain in place throughout the Easter Bank Holiday, traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. TfL has warned that severe delays are expected throughout this period, particularly during weekday peak hours.
Once the full closure ends, the works will move into a final phase lasting from late April to July 2026, during which the A40 will be closed westbound every weekend from 10pm on Fridays until 5amon Mondays. The Marylebone Flyover will remain open during these westbound closures, but delays are still expected.
TfL is advising drivers travelling to and from central London to use the A312 Parkway or the A406 North Circular Road to connect to the A4 and M4, or to use the M4 or M1 for access to the M25. Local drivers are being urged to avoid the area altogether, use public transport where possible, and allow significantly more time for their journeys. Bus services across West London, including routes such as the 18, 23, 27, 94, 205, 207, 220, 260 and 295, are expected to experience delays.
The disruption is likely to be compounded by the ongoing lane closures on the A4 near Chiswick Roundabout, which have already reduced capacity on one of West London’s key east–west corridors. The A4 normally absorbs a large proportion of traffic when the A40 is congested, but the restrictions by Chiswick Roundabout have created a persistent bottleneck, slowing traffic approaching from the M4, A316, A406 and Chiswick High Road.
The next phase of the ongoing refurbishment programme to the concrete pillars beneath the M4 elevated section began on 9 March with work taking place between Chiswick Roundabout and Lionel Road. It will continue for up to 35 weeks, with an anticipated completion date of Saturday 7 November 2026.
As with previous phases of this scheme, scaffolding will need to be erected around the pillars and traffic management installed within the A4 Great West Road central reservation to allow work to be carried out safely.
Between March and November, a lane three closure on the A4 westbound carriageway will remain in place near the junction with Capital Interchange Way. The two lanes designated for the M4 from the Chiswick Roundabout will remain open, with the third lane designated for the A4 available beyond the work area.
No lane closures will be required on the A4 eastbound carriageway. Pedestrian crossings and vehicle crossings over the A4 will not be affected by this phase of works.
Highways England plan to refurbish up to twelve pillars of the flyover, in addition to the thirteen pillars already completed since 2023.
The combination of the two sets of works is likely to cause widespread congestion across West London. Traffic is expected to spill onto local roads in Acton, Ealing, Shepherd’s Bush, Hammersmith, Brentford and Chiswick, with longer queues on routes such as Uxbridge Road, Goldhawk Road and Scrubs Lane. Bus reliability is also expected to suffer across a wide area, as delays on the A4 and A40 ripple through the network.
TfL has emphasised that the works are unavoidable and that the long-term safety of the Westway structure depends on the replacement of the ageing joints. However, the timing of the closures, combined with the existing restrictions on the A4, means that West London residents and businesses face several months of significant travel disruption.
For more details, see the TfL webpage here.
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