DLR Extension opened, ahead of schedule, on November 22nd 1999

Background

With the completion of work on the viaducts, bridges, tunnels,track-base and track along with much of the infrastructure of the new DLR Extension to Lewisham, the power was initially switched on in early March 1999. Automatic test trains were run night and day in readiness for the opening of the line, which occured over a month ahead of schedule. Straightsmouth in Greenwich was closed permanently to traffic on February 3rd 1997 to facilitate platform works at the existing Greenwich ‘heavy rail’ station.

Following completion of the works, Straightsmouth was re-opened for pedestrian traffic only. The old pedestrian subway from Straightsmouth also closed, and although a new subway was constructed, much to the consternation of local residents who claim an undertaking was signed that the new link would be opened before the old one closed, it is reported as unlikely to be opened until the DLR works are complete, as its southern end emerges into a DLR works site.

Despite the line now being open, Greenwich Station forecourt is still split in two with a ‘kiss-and-ride’ drop off area with minimal commuter parking on one side and a site entrance on the other. The Connex South East line ‘up’ platform at the station has been totally realigned in to space that once separated the two platforms, a legacy of the days of ‘steam’. This has allowed the DLR station fo be located to the south of the ‘up’ line.

The site of the Deptford Bridge Station is alongside Deptford Creek where it passes beneath the A2. The station is located above the A2 at this point. A temporary steel bridge structure was erected over the road to facilitate the construction of the DLR bridge over this major arterial route. The bridge has now been removed, and the road width restrictions that were in place for many months have now been removed.

Elverson Way, Lewisham, was closed to through traffic, May 1997 to facilitate works on the scheme. This is not now expected to re-open as a through route.

Major works adjacent to Lewisham Station and bus station have produced an impressive major transport interchange with onward links to many other parts of S.E. London including Lee Green, Catford and Bromley. Both bores of the new tunnel under the Thames from the Mudchute site on the Isle of Dogs on which work began in mid-June 1997 were completed well ahead of schedule. The old Mudchute and Island Gardens Stations were both closed in January 1999 to permit the link to be made to the new extension. A special bus service operated to serve these two locations from the temporary DLR terminus.

For further information, contact:

DLR Monitoring Group
324 Creek Road, Greenwich London SE10 9SW
Telephone: 0181 853 2248
Fax: 0181 853 2101

More DLR Developments
Cutty Sark Station CPO Furore	Greenwich Phoenix Proposals

Web’d by David Riddle
e-mail: dpreeyore@gmail.com

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