Thames stops the traffic flow with 580 roadworks

A total of 580 separate digs are under way in about 200 streets, the Evening Standard has learned. The unprecedented £650million programme to replace Victorian mains pipes is now close to its peak in central London, where it causes the most disruption.

Roads are suffering closures and reduced lane capacity, causing delays for drivers and massive disruption for thousands of businesses.

The project, to run until 2010, is so large that more than 1,500 workers are employed on it.

Thames Water spokesman Don Sharples said: "People are feeling the work at the moment because we are tackling central London, where the pipes are at their oldest. It is a case of short-term pain, longterm gain. Although it is bad, we won't need to replace these pipes for another 100 years."

The programme, which started in Bethnal Green in 2003, covers large swathes of the West End and major roads in areas such as Maida Vale and Kensington. Work has started on replacing pipes in the centre of Covent Garden, causing disruption in one of the capital's busiest tourist areas, while digging in other areas of Soho and New Oxford Street has been causing major problems for theatres and restaurants.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "London traffic is on a knife-edge at the best of times. It only takes two unrelated incidents to cause gridlock. So if you already have major roadworks, something else minor happening causes a mega-jam that takes hours to clear."

Fiona Rhys-Jenkins Bailey, chairwoman of the Soho Society, said: "It's been very bad and chaotic and they have made lots of mistakes.

"Once they struck an electricity box and closed down the electrics in all the restaurants from Greek Street to Charing Cross Road for a whole afternoon. It has driven a lot of traders mad. The worry is that as soon as Thames Water finishes, someone else will start digging - it's never coordinated.

"Thames Water has been absolutely appalling but I suppose it's got to be done. It just seems to be done in a very haphazard way."

Even the firm itself has struggled to keep up with how many roadworks are happening.

"It's difficult to pinpoint exactly how many are going on as the figure changes daily," said a company spokesman.

"Work tends to occur over a week-long period, after which the crew will simply move down the road or onto a new area."

In addition, Thames is carrying out day-to-day roadworks to fix broken pipes and other problems.

Kate Hughes, who is overseeing the ring main replacement project, said: "We have already laid 1,400km of pipe, saving 142 million litres of water, so I think progress has been very good."

Thames Water says it has worked closely with businesses to minimise disruption. When work was done in Soho, it was planned to avoid matinee performances in theatres and lunch in restaurants offering al fresco dining.

Miss Hughes said: "I think everyone understands it is something that has to be done. It's a case of making the works as painless as possible."