Pedestrian Priority Streets Programme King William Street
16 September 2024 update: Following good progress made on the southern section of the scheme, the programme has been updated accordingly. Please see the 'When and where construction will take place' section for details.
From Monday 8 July 2024, improvements are taking place on King William Street. The changes are part of the City Corporation's Pedestrian Priority Programme to make walking safer, easier, and more accessible in the Square Mile, with nicer places for people to spend time in.
The improvements include:
- More space for people with wider pavements on both sides of the street and a narrower carriageway that’s quicker and easier to cross;
- New seating and wider accessibility improvements;
- Planting of 15+ trees to provide shade and shelter from the elements and help clean the air;
- Raised junctions at side streets to provide a level surface, slow turning vehicles and reinforce priority for people walking and wheeling;
- Raised sections of carriageway to slow vehicles and make the street easier to cross at Lombard Street, St Swithin’s Lane and Nicholas Lane;
- An improved highways drainage system;
- Two new purpose-built inset and timed loading bays
- A better crossing on the approach to Monument
Detailed plans can be viewed in the Streets and Walkways Sub (Planning and Transportation) Committee report.
When and where construction will take place
Construction of the scheme will now be split into two distinct phases. The first phase starts on Monday 8 July 2024 and will encompass all the street apart from the section between Nicholas Lane and Abchurch Lane. This change to the programme has been made to facilitate the new development at 10 King William Street.
Our contractors will start at the southern end of King William Street at the junction with Monument before progressing north. The street will be one-way northbound for all traffic during construction to enable a safe working area for our contractors and maintain access to Lombard Street. All southbound traffic, including buses and cycles, will be on diversion.
This first phase is due to complete in August 2025 when the street will revert to normal two-way running.
Our contractors will return to complete the section between Nicholas Lane and Abchurch Lane once the development at 10 King William Street is nearing completion.
Southbound cycle diversions during the works
People cycling southbound will be diverted at Bank Junction east along Cornhill, then southbound along Gracechurch Street to Monument.
The traffic signal timings at the Cornhill/Gracechurch Street/ Leadenhall Street junction will be altered slightly to better facilitate the turning for people cycling.
Bus diversions during the works
The southbound bus diversions from Monday 8 July are:
- Routes 21, 43 & 141
Buses on these routes will not serve: Moorgate, Princes Street, Mansion House Street, Lombard St or King William Street.
They will be diverted via South Place, Eldon Street, Blomfield Street, London Wall, Wormwood Street, Bishopsgate, Gracechurch Street, King William Street to London Bridge.
- Route 133
133 buses will not serve: Cheapside, Poultry, Mansion House Street, Lombard Street, King William Street.
Buses will be on diversion via Cheapside, New Change, Cannon Street, King William Street to London Bridge
- Route N21
N21 buses will not serve: Queen Victoria Street, Queen Street, Cheapside, Poultry, Mansion House Street, Lombard Street, King William Street
The N21 will divert via St Paul's Church Yard, Cannon Street, King William Street to London Bridge
During the construction works, please remember to check before you travel, as diversions may change.
There will be full road and side-road closures for shorter durations when resurfacing the carriageway or working across junctions is required. Further information is included in the detailed phasing plan at the bottom of this page.
City Corporation officers will be in touch with the affected buildings and businesses via letter and visits nearer the date of the closures. Access to properties will be maintained as best as possible throughout the works, as well as an accessible route for people walking and wheeling along the street.
As our construction plan is subject to change, any revised versions of the plan will be published here alongside the reasons for the changes. The current construction phasing plan, both overview and detailed versions, are attached at the bottom of this page.
Who to contact
If you have an enquiry regarding the Pedestrian Priority Programme at King William Street, please contact the Pedestrian Priority team.
The project is being delivered by FM Conway. If you have any questions about the day-to-day management of the works on-site, please contact Bradley Kelly (FM Conway Site Supervisor) on 01732 600 888.
If you require out of hours assistance, please contact the City Corporation's main switchboard on 0207 606 3030.
