The popular walking and cycling route could be closed for another two years as Thames Water undertakes major works to the sewer running underneath it, reports Nick Clark, Local Democracy Reporter

The Greenway route (left) and (right) a cycle lane in Canning Town

Cycle lanes along West Ham Lane and Plaistow Road could soon be built as an alternative to the Greenway during its prolonged closure.

Newham Council leaders agreed to press ahead with the cycle lanes earlier this week.

Council papers said the cycle paths would serve “users displaced by the Greenway closure”.

The Greenway is a popular walking and cycling path running from Bow in Tower Hamlets through Stratford, Plaistow and West Ham in Newham before ending at Beckton in the east of the borough.

But the route is currently closed between Upper Road in Plaistow and Channelsea Path in West Ham while Thames Water carries out sewer repairs.

The water company – which owns the Greenway – is making major upgrades to its Northern Outfall Sewer network that runs underneath. The work has meant several closures of the Greenway since 2024.

Senior Labour councillor Susan Masters, responsible for travel, said the closure had “created significant challenges for residents and users who rely on this strategic route every day”.

Labour council leaders voted to progress with plans to build the cycle lanes along West Ham Lane and Plaistow Road, part of the A112.

They are a section of a longer planned cycle route across Newham running the length of the A112, north to south, from Leyton to the Royal Docks.

Cllr Masters said it would help “residents, commuters, school children and visitors travel with confidence while sections of the Greenway remain closed”.

She added that the “extent of the disruption” and the length of the time the Greenway is set to remain closed was “concerning”.

Closures are expected to continue until late 2028.

Newham Labour mayor Forhad Hussain said he had written to Thames Water along with the borough’s mayor MPs James Asser, Stephen Timms and Uma Kumaran, urging the privately-owned utility company to speed up work.

Hussain also thanked Green Party councillors for raising the matter. He said: “The Greenway is a really important community asset to me and to the community. I taught my kids how to cycle on the Greenway.

“I’m hoping we all can come together and look at opening it in some shape or form for our residents.”

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