A decision on whether the Croydon Flyover will receive the government funding needed for a major refurbishment is expected this autumn, Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed.
The upgrade would prolong the life of the ageing structure by at least 25 years and help avoid the risk of future closures or traffic restrictions.
TfL has submitted a business case to the Department for Transport’s Structures Fund, which would pay for the extensive works needed to restore the flyover.
Completed in 1969, the reinforced concrete flyover carries the A232 from Waddon over Croydon Old Town and into the town centre.
It is one of south London’s busiest transport links, carrying around 40,000 vehicles each day while supporting a further 30,000 vehicle movements beneath it. However, after years of service, the flyover is starting to show its age.
In 2022, a TfL report named the flyover as one of six London roads and tunnels facing “imminent closure” without work in the next three years.
Work was initially expected to begin in 2026, but the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands that delays in securing the crucial funding package mean the major refurbishment works are yet to get underway.
The proposed upgrade would include replacing waterproofing, drainage, joints and parapets, alongside structural repairs to tackle deterioration. TfL says the work would extend the flyover’s life by at least 25 years while protecting a key east-west route linking Croydon with Sutton, Bromley and the wider road network.
However, without funding from the Structures Fund, TfL says it would be unable to commit to the full programme of repairs within the timescale needed to maximise efficiency and minimise disruption. Instead, it said it would have to reconsider what work was possible alongside its other infrastructure priorities.
A decision on the outcome of the business case is expected in autumn.
A TfL spokesperson told the LDRS: “Safety is our top priority, and we regularly inspect and maintain TfL’s road network to ensure it is safe for people to use.
“We are currently completing essential design and planning work, which will help inform our delivery timelines, and continue to update stakeholders and local residents as the programme develops.
“We also continue to engage with government to ensure that critical assets like the Croydon Flyover continue to receive adequate funding to prevent them from possible closure in the future.”
Croydon Council has also backed TfL’s bid, with the Mayor Jason Perry recently writing to the Transport Secretary in support of the application. If funding is approved and TfL confirms its programme, work is currently expected to begin in 2027.
A Croydon Council spokesperson said: “The council will continue working closely with TfL to keep residents and businesses informed and ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum.”
