Traffic delays of two hours

Drivers coming into London have faced delays of up to two hours after new restrictions came into force for the Olympics.

Many lane restrictions are now being applied on the A12, A13 and A40.

It was bad news for motorists using all three roads as they experienced up to two hour delays on the first morning the Olympic lanes were enforced.

Transport for London had warned journeys on the roads may take “considerably longer than usual”.

One motorist commented from the A13 said his normal hour-long drive from Swanley to Redbridge was taking two and a half hours.

There was also heavy traffic in central London, with delays in Whitehall, Shaftesbury Avenue and Trafalgar Square.

The Mall is also closed due to Olympic preparations and motorists told of delays in Greenwich.

Changes to 120 key junctions have been made, with more than 1,000 sets of traffic lights rephased due to the Games.

Any drivers breaking the new regulations will incur a fine of £130 examples may be driving in the Games lanes or stopping along the route..

In a briefing a spokesman for Transport for London, said: “Several major routes into London will be exceptionally busy on Monday morning as the capital continues its transformation into a huge sporting and cultural venue.

“The unprecedented scale of changes to London’s roads, the arrival for the Games of 11,500 athletes, media and officials and the Torch Relay mean that there will be a significant impact on traffic in the capital.

“This impact will last for the duration of the Olympic Games.”

The changes are part of the establishment of the Olympic Route Network, which is intended to make sure athletes and officials can move around the city smoothly.