Traffic chaos as temporary lights malfunction on Putney High Street

Putney has descended into traffic chaos this evening as temporary traffic lights failed at roadworks on the High Street, leaving drivers stranded and forcing some bus passengers to disembark over safety concerns.

The disruption, which peaked around 5pm today, affected two separate roadworks locations on the High Street – one near Metro Bank and another further up the hill by Putney High School – with the temporary lights near Lidl stopping working entirely.

Putney Bridge Junction has ground to a halt with traffic backing up all the way into Fulham as a result.

“I was stuck on the bus for 30 minutes at 2pm,” said one resident. “It’s all due to the Putney High Street roadworks backing up traffic…Utter chaos.”

The situation worsened dramatically when the temporary lights malfunctioned. “Think the temporary lights are broken. Cars now ignoring the red lights,” another resident reported just before 5pm. Another, George, reported to Putney.news that it had taken him over an hour to get home – a distance of one mile – with three kids in the back.

Another resident, with two young children, was forced to get off the bus due to dangerous conditions. “We all had to get off the bus it was so dangerous,” she said. “Have never known anything like it.”

Multiple residents confirmed that drivers, frustrated by the malfunctioning signals, began improvising dangerous alternative routes. “Omg cars are actually now going round the back of the lights to go via [Lower Richmond Road],” one reported. “This is very dangerous.”

One driver described the journey from Lower Richmond Road to Putney Bridge Road as taking “almost 30 minutes,” adding: “which is insane.”

The roadworks involve utilities companies Thames Water and UK Power Networks, with residents reporting throughout the day that no work appeared to be taking place at the sites. The delay is understood to be due to coordination issues, with one company needing to complete their work before the other can fill in the excavation.

“The companies, Thames Water & UK Power Networks, should be penalised,” argued one resident. “Sheer incompetence.”

Adding to the evening’s transport woes, the District Line experienced separate signal failures at East Putney station, causing delays between Wimbledon and Parsons Green. Network Rail was called to fix the signal failure, with Transport for London reporting good service on the rest of the line. The failure will almost certainly be a result of the wet weather.

The disruption comes against a backdrop of ongoing traffic challenges in Putney, with the area still dealing with increased congestion following the continued closure of Hammersmith Bridge and multiple utilities works across the High Street.

Putney.news has contacted the relevant companies for comment on when the temporary lights will be fixed and what coordination measures are in place to prevent extended delays between sequential utilities works.

Updates to follow as we receive official responses.