Drivers were stuck in chaos at one of south-west London’s busiest junctions this week after Transport for London (TfL) updated the ‘smart’ traffic lights.
The system, designed to adjust automatically to ease traffic, was meant to cut congestion, but queues stretched back almost a mile during the Tuesday morning rush hour.
The ‘intelligent’ traffic lights can be found at the intersection of Putney High Street and Lower Richmond Road at Putney Bridge.
Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, said the traffic control chips, which were updated on Monday 27th October, “are designed to improve traffic flow.”
However, commuters were waiting almost 10 minutes to travel less than a mile on Tuesday 28th October.
The lights come after months of frustration in Putney, where recent changes, including an updated lane layout on Putney High Street and Lower Richmond Road, have been testing the patience of local commuters.
Wandsworth Council have now stated in an open letter that they “fully acknowledge and appreciate that traffic levels and journey times have been worse than originally predicted following works in the area to improve pedestrian and cycle facilities.”
Facebook comments reacting to Wandsworth Council’s update on Putney Bridge roadworks late last year. Source: Facebook.
But locals seem unimpressed, as one Putney resident commented that “since the new system’s been in place it’s been much, much worse.”
When asked about the new traffic light system, no resident reported noticing an improvement in congestion.
A 378 bus driver told reporters “there’s no difference at all… you just can’t move.”
Another local said “I’ve been doing this [commute] for 50 years and it’s now worse than it’s ever been.”
Several residents raised concerns about emergency access, claiming they had seen ambulances struggling to get through the traffic.
Conservative Councillor Ethan Brooks, who represents the Thamesfield Ward, said “it’s difficult to know what’s having an impact” because “so many changes have been made at once.”
Mr Brooks argues “the quickest solution would be to reverse the changes that were made,” something he has repeatedly asked the council to do without success.
All of the Conservative council candidates have pledged to reverse the junction changes if elected in May 2026, which they claim would “restore proper traffic flow and reduce unnecessary congestion in Putney.”
However, even Mr Brooks states that this wouldn’t be a long-term fix.
A map showing the new automatically controlled lights and traffic in Putney. Source: Abi Cohen for City News.
Wandsworth Council, Ms Anderson and many local residents all blame the closure of Hammersmith Bridge for the increase in traffic since April 2019.
The council say they “are working closely with Fleur Anderson MP to lobby the government to find a solution.”
Mr Brooks, however, claims “it suits Hammersmith and Fulham [council] to keep the bridge closed,” arguing the Hammersmith and Fulham Council are “happy to sit on their hands… to put the traffic onto Wandsworth and therefore Putney.”
Even with pressure from Wandsworth Council and local residents, the bridge won’t be reopened to motor vehicles any time soon. Ms Anderson noted that “even if they started [now], it would be 10 years of building,” meaning that if the work began today, the bridge wouldn’t open until 2035.
For now, the lights may be new, but the jams are the same, and drivers are left wondering when Putney’s rush-hour misery will finally ease.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineNew Robot Lights Spark Mile Long Traffic Jams
Short HeadlineNew Robot Lights Spark Mile Long Traffic Jams
StandfirstThey promised smoother journeys and fewer jams, but commuters say TfL’s high-tech lights have only made traffic grind to a halt.
Drivers were stuck in chaos at one of south-west London’s busiest junctions this week after Transport for London (TfL) updated the ‘smart’ traffic lights.
The system, designed to adjust automatically to ease traffic, was meant to cut congestion, but queues stretched back almost a mile during the Tuesday morning rush hour.
The ‘intelligent’ traffic lights can be found at the intersection of Putney High Street and Lower Richmond Road at Putney Bridge.
Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, said the traffic control chips, which were updated on Monday 27th October, “are designed to improve traffic flow.”
However, commuters were waiting almost 10 minutes to travel less than a mile on Tuesday 28th October.
The lights come after months of frustration in Putney, where recent changes, including an updated lane layout on Putney High Street and Lower Richmond Road, have been testing the patience of local commuters.
Wandsworth Council have now stated in an open letter that they “fully acknowledge and appreciate that traffic levels and journey times have been worse than originally predicted following works in the area to improve pedestrian and cycle facilities.”
Facebook comments reacting to Wandsworth Council’s update on Putney Bridge roadworks late last year. Source: Facebook.
But locals seem unimpressed, as one Putney resident commented that “since the new system’s been in place it’s been much, much worse.”
When asked about the new traffic light system, no resident reported noticing an improvement in congestion.
A 378 bus driver told reporters “there’s no difference at all… you just can’t move.”
Another local said “I’ve been doing this [commute] for 50 years and it’s now worse than it’s ever been.”
Several residents raised concerns about emergency access, claiming they had seen ambulances struggling to get through the traffic.
Conservative Councillor Ethan Brooks, who represents the Thamesfield Ward, said “it’s difficult to know what’s having an impact” because “so many changes have been made at once.”
Mr Brooks argues “the quickest solution would be to reverse the changes that were made,” something he has repeatedly asked the council to do without success.
All of the Conservative council candidates have pledged to reverse the junction changes if elected in May 2026, which they claim would “restore proper traffic flow and reduce unnecessary congestion in Putney.”
However, even Mr Brooks states that this wouldn’t be a long-term fix.
A map showing the new automatically controlled lights and traffic in Putney. Source: Abi Cohen for City News.
Wandsworth Council, Ms Anderson and many local residents all blame the closure of Hammersmith Bridge for the increase in traffic since April 2019.
The council say they “are working closely with Fleur Anderson MP to lobby the government to find a solution.”
Mr Brooks, however, claims “it suits Hammersmith and Fulham [council] to keep the bridge closed,” arguing the Hammersmith and Fulham Council are “happy to sit on their hands… to put the traffic onto Wandsworth and therefore Putney.”
Even with pressure from Wandsworth Council and local residents, the bridge won’t be reopened to motor vehicles any time soon. Ms Anderson noted that “even if they started [now], it would be 10 years of building,” meaning that if the work began today, the bridge wouldn’t open until 2035.
For now, the lights may be new, but the jams are the same, and drivers are left wondering when Putney’s rush-hour misery will finally ease.
