What has changed this week?
Compared with the previous update, the network is beginning to shift.
Some shorter-duration works have cleared, while two established restrictions are now approaching their scheduled end dates:
A20 Eltham Road westbound — due to complete 13 September
A2 Old Kent Road at Devonshire Grove — due to complete 13 September
If both finish on schedule, South East London should regain capacity on two important radial routes.
Temporary signals around Academy Road / Shooters Hill Road remain in place until 25 September, while longer-term works continue across the A206 and Woolwich corridor. (tfl.gov.uk)
Woolwich, Shooters Hill and the A206
The Woolwich area remains one of the more fragmented parts of the network.
Temporary lights at Academy Road / Shooters Hill Road continue to interrupt traffic around Woolwich Common, while long-term Cycleway works remain active through Woolwich Church Street and around Woolwich Ferry Roundabout.
These restrictions are not necessarily severe individually, but together they continue to create stop-start traffic across the corridor.
The A206 remains a route where local works can affect journey reliability even when the strategic network is operating normally. (tfl.gov.uk)
Blackwall and Silvertown
No major planned closure has been identified for either the Blackwall Tunnel or Silvertown Tunnel during this reporting period.
The main pressure is expected around their approaches, particularly on event nights at The O2.
That keeps the crossings broadly stable, but the A102 and Greenwich Peninsula remain vulnerable to short-duration congestion.
Woolwich Ferry
The Woolwich Ferry remains available, with no major planned closure identified for the week.
The larger issue remains access from the south, where A206 construction continues around Woolwich and the ferry approaches.
Normal ferry operation does not necessarily mean a clear journey through Woolwich. (tfl.gov.uk)
Dartford: the main issue this week
This is where the largest change occurs.
National Highways has confirmed repeated overnight closures at the Dartford Crossing throughout the reporting period.
7–10 September
West tunnel closed 22:00–05:30
11 September
West tunnel closed 23:00–06:00
12 September
Both northbound tunnels closed 20:00–05:00
Northbound traffic will use a contraflow arrangement across the QEII Bridge.
13 September
West tunnel closed 22:30–05:30
14 September
West tunnel closes again from 22:00
The Saturday closure is the most significant of the week and is likely to affect late-evening and overnight traffic most heavily. (nationalhighways.co.uk)
QEII Bridge maintenance also continues through September, mainly using overnight lane restrictions.
Greenwich Peninsula and The O2
The O2 has another busy run of events this week, creating repeated evening pressure around North Greenwich.
Major events include:
8 September — National Television Awards
9 September — Vybz Kartel & Mavado
10–14 September — continuing Hilary Duff residency
11 September — Melanie Martinez
12 September — The Waterboys
13 September — Evanescence
The roads most likely to feel the effect remain:
A102, Blackwall Lane, Millennium Way and the Blackwall/Silvertown approaches. (theo2.co.uk)
ROBELIUM Observation
This week's picture is slightly different from the last.
Temporary traffic lights and long-term works remain part of the everyday South East London problem, particularly around Woolwich and Shooters Hill.
But the main strategic issue has moved to Dartford, where the overnight closure programme is considerably more intensive.
At the same time, the possible completion of the A20 Eltham Road and Old Kent Road works on 13 September could remove two established restrictions from the network.
So the week ahead is best described as:
stable daytime crossings, persistent local roadworks, heavy evening event traffic around Greenwich — and a much more difficult overnight picture at Dartford.
Disclaimer
This Traffic Intelligence update has been prepared using publicly available information from Transport for London, National Highways and published event schedules checked on 7 September 2026.
Roadworks, closures, ferry operations and event arrangements can change at short notice. Drivers should consult the relevant transport authority for current information before travelling.
