We’re listening: more improvements coming to Putney Bridge junction

We finished the physical works ahead of schedule in December 2024, meaning that the bridge junction was safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and lights for drivers were upgraded.

In spring 2025, TfL installed sensors which linked the traffic lights to TfL’s control room and helped optimise the light cycles at the two junctions: Putney High Street with Putney Bridge Road, and Putney Bridge Road with Lower Richmond Road, meaning residents could benefit from a smoother flow of traffic.

Further changes are needed to the lights and we’re working with TfL on these and making other improvements that we can.

Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The new junction layout was approved by TfL after they thoroughly checked the traffic modelling. Now that the works are complete, we’re gathering new data to make sure everything’s performing as it should.

“We also know other nearby projects, like TfL’s works on Battersea Bridge Road, are affecting traffic, but things should ease over the summer holidays when roads are typically quieter and when the Battersea Bridge Road works complete which should be in October. In the meantime, we are doing everything we can to try and improve traffic flows.

“Air quality in Putney continues to improve year on year, thanks to a combination of cleaner vehicles, targeted policies, and ongoing investment in greener transport.”

What has been done so far?

• Installed and optimised new TfL traffic sensors at the junction
• Extended the westbound bus lane hours from 7am to 7pm to help speed up buses and make cycling along Putney Bridge Road safer
• Updated lane layout on Putney High Street and Lower Richmond Road to encourage the use of two lanes of traffic
• Increased enforcement action by our traffic wardens to stop unauthorised loading on Putney High Street that blocks traffic
• Ongoing work with TfL to tweak traffic signal timings and review light phases.

What’s happening next?

TfL is working on our request to improve the light synchronisation. This means vehicles waiting in the middle of the junction (turning from Putney Bridge Road to the bridge) can clear more easily during each cycle. Due Autumn 2025.

We’re working with TfL to give vehicles turning left from Lower Richmond Road onto the bridge more time to move through the green light. Due Autumn 2025.

We’re continuing to explore further changes to make the most of all available space in the junction. These options are being modelled now using updated data and will only be introduced if they’re proven to help. Due Winter 2025.

We’re working with TfL to review bus stop locations and bus driver change over points where changes could free up space on the High Street and further reduce congestion. This is a work in progress.

Air Quality

We appreciate that residents are concerned about air quality in and around Putney High Street. However, due to cleaner buses and vehicles, air quality has improved significantly in this area and is now in line with UK air quality standards.

The Council has an air quality monitoring station in Putney and two quality monitoring nodes that use sensors to detect pollution. Residents can check the air quality data on these maps. These show both live and historic air quality data:

• London Air Quality Network – for data from our Putney Monitoring station  
• Breathe London Communities – for data from our air quality monitoring nodes