Urgent Inspections Reveal Croydon Flyover Needs Major Refurbishment

Transport for London (TfL) engineers have been carrying out urgent inspections on the Croydon Flyover this week, confirming that the 60-year-old structure “requires refurbishment.”

Sections of the Wandle Road surface car park, located beneath the flyover, were closed while surveys took place. Although the closure was initially scheduled for just two days, it extended throughout the week, with TfL expecting to finish its investigation work by the end of today.

Longstanding Structural Concerns

The Croydon Flyover — a concrete and steel structure built between 1965 and 1969 — has been on TfL’s radar for several years.

The agency first identified the need for significant maintenance three years ago, citing corrosion and structural wear similar to issues previously found in other mid-20th-century flyovers.

A decade ago, the Hammersmith Flyover faced comparable problems. Constructed using the same materials and techniques, it required urgent repairs in 2013 after falling masonry raised safety concerns. That two-year project ultimately cost around £100 million.

However, funding constraints have delayed progress in Croydon. The impact of the pandemic, combined with previous financial mismanagement under City Hall, has left TfL short of capital investment for maintenance and renewal projects.

Funding Challenges and Wider Risks

A 2022 TfL report warned that both the Croydon Flyover and A40 Westway were among several key road structures at risk of “imminent closure” without urgent intervention. The agency has estimated that £2 billion is needed to bring London’s road bridges, flyovers, and tunnels up to a safe and sustainable condition.

The six-lane Croydon Flyover, which carries the A232 between Fisher’s Folly and Duppas Hill Road, is a critical east–west route used by roughly 40,000 vehicles daily. Built of reinforced concrete, it connects central Croydon to surrounding districts and forms part of the town’s primary traffic network.

TfL has stated that it aims to begin major maintenance works in 2026, which will include concrete repairs, waterproofing, new lighting, and replacement of expansion joints. Design work for these improvements has already been completed — but the start date remains dependent on available funding.

Mounting Costs Across the Network

According to New Civil Engineer, the worsening state of TfL’s infrastructure has been a long time coming. In 2021, the agency revealed that the cost of maintaining its road assets — including bridges, tunnels, and Thames crossings — had risen by over 760% in five years.

TfL attributed this dramatic increase to repeated delays and budget cuts within its renewal programme, which also covers at-risk structures such as Rotherhithe Tunnel, Vauxhall Bridge, Hammersmith Bridge, and the A40 Westway.

TfL Statement

Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Streets and Network Operations, said:

“Safety is our top priority, and we regularly inspect and maintain TfL’s road network to ensure it remains safe for everyone.We have implemented temporary closures at the Wandle Surface Car Park to assess the Croydon Flyover’s condition, which we know is in need of refurbishment. The final phase of this closure will be completed by November 7.”