Work started yesterday on the Hammersmith gyratory in the next stage of improvements along the Cycleway 9 (C9) route, linking west London.

The changes are part of a series of infrastructure upgrades by TfL, Hammersmith & Fulham Council and Hounslow Council along the busy C9 corridor, which could extend to Brentford.

The gyratory will open a key link in a new 4.7km Cycleway which will connect Kew Bridge, Gunnersbury, Chiswick and Hammersmith, with hopes to extend the growing network of routes in west London.

A protected space for cycling has also been constructed on the South Circular Road by Kew Bridge.

Work on further measures west towards Brentford are being debated but apparently depend on ongoing discussions between TfL and the government for long-term sustained investment in London, which Tfl has said is required to avoid a 'Managed Decline' scenario.

Hounslow Council will be upgrading the current trial cycleway on Chiswick High Road, with new bus lanes and improvements to the existing scheme to improve cycle safety and accessibility.

Once complete, the new cycle lane will remain in place under an experimental traffic order to allow TfL to gather data and feedback about how it is working.

Councillor Hanif Khan, Cabinet Member for Transport at Hounslow Council, said: "We want to make sure that cycling in Hounslow is as safe and easy as possible because it supports our environmental ambitions and enables healthier lifestyles; our aim is for the temporary Cycleway 9 to meet the needs of all users in our community."

Hammersmith gyratory improvements will include:

• A protected two-way cycle track on the north side of Hammersmith gyratory  
• Cyclist-specific signals at junctions to separate cyclists and motor vehicles 
• Improvements for pedestrian safety at all junctions with side roads, including raised level crossings and more footway space
• New pedestrian crossing signals with 'countdowns' at the crossings of King Street, Beadon Road, Shepherd's Bush Road, Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith Road and Butterwick 
• A new parallel crossing at the Butterwick junction to allow westbound cyclists to join the two-way cycle track

Work is set to be completed by spring 2022 and TfL is advising people in the area to check their journeys before they travel, as construction work will mean that there will be some disruption in the area.