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Roads chaos after storm damages Coca-Cola HQ
David Williams and Anna Davis11 Mar 2008
Motorists were caught up in rush-hour chaos today after one of the busiest junctions in London was closed because of safety fears.
The Hammersmith gyratory and all roads leading into it were shut after high winds ripped cladding from the Coca-Cola headquarters last night.
Police decided the panels were a major risk to vehicles and pedestrians using the A4 flyover.
At the height of the rush hour motorists faced heavy tailbacks across a swathe of west London. Queues stretched as far back as the M4 , said travel data firm Trafficlink.
Transport for London and Hammersmith and Fulham council appealed to drivers to avoid the area.
However, by 10.15am all roads were reopened, swiftly easing the jams.
Safety officers from the council were today reassessing the safety of the Coca-Cola building.
Motorists also faced long tailbacks as they attempted to get home last night because of the road closures.
Yakup Sezen, 44, a courier from Wimbledon, said: "The traffic is the worst I've seen it in nine years.
"I came down Fulham Palace Road and nothing was moving so I had to park up and walk to the Tube.
"I was at a standstill for about two hours and even all the shortcuts were chock-a-block.
"I was supposed to be delivering some artwork to a client but I've had to abandon it so I've lost money."
Laura Trant, 26, a BBC journalist, said: "The traffic has been bumper to bumper for three hours and I have seen people getting really irate and shouting at each other through their windows.
"The police support officer I spoke to didn't seem to know much and what they did know they weren't keen on sharing. Even the police cars struggled to get through the traffic and had to sit there in the traffic with their sirens blaring."
Londoners were warned that more heavy winds are expected to hit the capital tonight, meaning more chaos on the roads and public transport.
Byron Chalcraft, a senior BBC weather forecaster, said: "There will be some severe winds coming across London tonight and early tomorrow.
"We could still get gusts of 50mph and possibly up to 60. It will be similar to the worst of the conditions we saw yesterday."
The warnings came after thousands of commuters faced delays of up to three hours last night as train speeds were limited to 50mph on major routes. Fallen trees added to the delays on lines operated by Southern Railways, South East Trains and South West Trains.
After the storm peters out tomorrow the weather is expected to be damp and unsettled.
Reader views (3)
3.2m and you drive? It's thanks to people who drive instead of walk/cycle/scooter for short distances that London is so chocked.
- Boris Jacquin, London, 14/03/2008 07:08
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In the circumstances is TfL going to waive the congestion charge for anyone who had to enter the charging zone in order to escape from or avoid the gridlock that occurred today?
- N. Thomas, London, UK, 11/03/2008 14:55
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2 hours and 45 minutes for me to drive 3.2 miles from Wandsworth bridge to Barons Court station.
Certainly the worst traffic jam I have ever been in.
- Fred, London, UK, 11/03/2008 13:45
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