Waqas Khan, who works as an Uber driver, has said that traffic as a result of the Gallows Corner closure has left him with little work and “always stuck” in his road, which is near Southend Arterial Road (A127).
He explained that not only do potential passengers cancel journeys due to the wait time, but he also cannot reach charging points for his electric vehicle because of the delays.
“I’m struggling,” Waqas told the Recorder.
“Everything has changed because of this – my whole routine, my life.
“I was doing really quick jobs when the roundabout was open but now I need to wait 40 to 45 minutes in the big queue from Ardleigh Green Road all the way down, so they [passengers] decline the jobs.”
READ MORE: Gallows Corner closure: Romford businesses left ‘suffering’
Waqas added that he normally does around 30 quick journeys in a morning, but since the full closure of Gallows Corner has only been able to manage around eight to 10.
This has left him behind on the finance of his car and even now struggling to pay his bills such as council tax.
He said: “It’s all the time, it’s too much.
“I’m always stuck and my car’s electric so I can’t go to the charge point as well.”
Transport for London (TfL) has yet to confirm a new completion date for the Gallows Corner project – following delays announced in August – but MP Julia Lopez said she has been told there will be an update by the end of October.
Waqas said if the closure goes on for much longer it will cause “too many problems” for residents and businesses.
Scott Haxton, TfL’s director of capital delivery, previously told the Recorder: “We’re working closely with Essex & Suffolk Water to complete the renewal of both vital pieces of infrastructure and minimise the impacts of the delay.
“We are very sorry for the disruption caused to local residents and businesses.”
A spokesperson for Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) added: “We continue to work very closely with TfL to ensure our programmes remain aligned through the remainder of the works on both infrastructure projects.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience.”
Both TfL and ESW have not commented further.
