The Anonymous Widower

What Is Happening At Highbury Corner?

Highbury Corner is a notorious junction, which I used to avoid when I drove, as it could often cause a lot of delay.

These pictures show barriers going up and the crossing outside Highbury and Islington station.

It would also appear that a new crossing is being built about fifty metres up Holloway Road. The guy in the paper shop told me that the main crossing will be closed and that the old Post Office will be demolished. I found this summary of the works here on the TfL web site. All the work is to replace a weak bridge and it says this about the old Post Office in particular.

The empty Post Office building needs to be demolished, and we expect to start work in the week beginning Monday 5 January 2015. The demolition work will be completed by March 2015.

We will make every effort to minimise the impact of noise and dust during the demolition.

The footpaths next to the old Post Office will remain open, although hoardings around the demolition site will make the footpaths narrower. This might create some crowding at busy times, impacting journeys in and out of the station.

In 2015, the main works to replace the bridge will begin.

I think it will be a good idea for pedestrians and drivers to avoid the area until 2017, when the article says that the bridge works will be complete.

The station is at a location where development would surely be worthwhile. Especially, if it put right all of the mistakes of the 1960s, which produced a Victoria Line station for the fit, agile and young. Below ground it’s a dump!

At least though it would appear that the western side of the roundabout will have reduced traffic levels and bus/Underground/Overground connections will be easier. The centre of the roundabout with its trees would also be opened up to the public.

My hopes for the bus/train interchange would include.

1. The 277 bus go right around to terminate in front of the station, ready to pick up passengers arriving at the station.

2. Easy interchange at the station from the 277 to either the 43 or the 271 to go north up Holloway Road towards Archway, Highgate and Barnet. At present you need to use two light-controlled crossings to cross two busy main roads, to affect the change.

3. The reverse journey on a southbound 43 or 271 to catch a 277 eastwards is probably more difficult, unless the buses cut through the western side of the roundabout.

But I think, I’m asking for too much!

I doubt though the development will be as grand as the original.

The Old Highbury and Islington Station

The entry on Wikipedia says this about the history of the station building.

The NLR station was damaged by a V-1 flying bomb on 27 June 1944, however, its main building remained in use until it was demolished in the 1960s during the building of the Victoria line. The original westbound platform buildings remain, as does a small part of the original entrance to the left of the present station entrance.

The Victoria Line might have had world leading automatic train operation when it opened, but most of the architecture and building of the stations, was some of the worst in the UK in the 1960s.

December 24, 2014 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Architecture, Bridges, Construction, Highbury And Islington Station, Highbury Corner