Canada Water bus station will close until mid-April whilst more bus stops are created, TfL has confirmed.
From this Saturday (2 March), the station will be closed for around six weeks while the upgrade works are completed.
The works include refurbishing the canopy, improving the roads and walkways by the station and creating extra space for future bus services.
Once complete, there will be more bus stops and the area allocated for bus stands at this facility. It will allow more buses to serve the bus station, increasing public transport capacity and in turn enabling the delivery of housing schemes in both Southwark and Lewisham.
According to a TfL spokesperson, the work is necessary to accommodate the expected increase in demand arising from an anticipated demand for over 10,000 new homes in the area and improve facilities and transport links for existing passengers.
Bus routes affected during the closure include 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, N199, P12, N381 and C10. The information window will remain open for customers.
Customers are advised to use nearby alternative bus stops. Stops A, B1, B2, C and D inside the bus station will be closed until mid-April, as well as stops F and G on Surrey Quays Road with buses being diverted, or stopping short of their usual destinations.
For example, routes 1, 199 or 225 to get to Canada Water Tube and Overground Station will terminate on Rotherhithe Old Road by Surrey Quays Station.
Therefore, customers are advised to alight at stop S and wait at the same stop for routes 47, 188 or 381 and alight at stop U with Canada Water Station.
Despite the bus station closure, Canada Water Underground and London Overground station will remain open.
Glynn Barton, TfL’s Director of Buses, said: “The improvements to Canada Water Bus Station will mean a more convenient and comfortable experience for customers using the station. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused during this time and we’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while the work takes place.
“There will be temporary bus diversions and bus-stopping changes while the works are being completed. Customers will still be able to make all existing journeys with the temporary arrangements.
“Customers are encouraged to check their journeys using TfL’s website or the TfL Go app and allow plenty of time for their journeys during this time. Full details of the changes to bus routes and alternative stopping arrangements during the closure can be found by visiting our website.”
The project is being paid for mainly through the central government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) and is on land which is already owned by TfL and is being repurposed. HIF, local developers, Southwark and TfL are also funding other transport upgrades in the area to support active travel and public transport.
HIF is funding £98million for transport upgrades including at Surrey Quays Station and Canada Water Bus Station.