Waterloo Road will be fully open again on the evening of Sunday, 18 October, according to Southwark News. The gas distribution company SGN told the paper that the street will be "safe to reopen" by the end of the weekend.
Key points
- Closure began — a large stretch of the road was shut at 2pm on 21 September after a gas leak was reported outside The Old Vic Theatre.
- Evacuations — around 400 office workers and 200 theatre staff were moved out as a precaution while an 18-inch gas main was repaired.
- Buses diverted — routes including 1, 68, 172, 176, 188, 59, 139 and C10 missed stops near Waterloo Station, The Old Vic and Lower Marsh.
An SGN spokesperson said engineers had been repairing and replacing part of the network under the road. The closure, they added, was needed so staff could reach the pipes safely, and the company acknowledged the disruption for residents, businesses, drivers and commuters in what it called a sensitive central London location.
The road was shut between The Cut and Baylis Road to the north and Gray Street to the south. Repairs to the ruptured main were finished by 8pm on the day of the leak, but the closure stayed in place for weeks while work continued. Resurfacing is now being completed before the street reopens.
The diversions caused knock-on congestion on nearby roads, with Westminster Bridge Road among those affected.
What it means in practice
For anyone who travels through Waterloo, the change is straightforward: bus routes and traffic should start returning to normal from Sunday evening. Until then, allow extra time and check stops before you set off.
- Bus users — routes 1, 68, 172, 176, 188, SL6, N1, N68, N171 and BL1, plus 59, 139 and C10, have been missing stops around Waterloo Station, The Old Vic and Lower Marsh; expect these to be restored once the road is open.
- Drivers — congestion on Westminster Bridge Road and nearby streets should ease as traffic returns to Waterloo Road.
- Local businesses and residents — access arrangements that were changed during the closure should return to normal, but check with your landlord or council if anything was formally altered.
