A road that has already had journeys “blighted” by works for the HS2 high-speed rail link could be closed for four years.

Construction has been taking place at Old Oak Common Lane in Acton, ever since the former Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps gave the thumbs up in June 2021 to begin permanent work on a HS2 Old Oak Common station.

HS2 says that ever since, there has been around 1,000 workers each day at the site helping to deliver the development.

Once complete the station will introduce 14 platforms and will be the UK’s largest new railway station ever built.

Brent & Kilburn Times: A look at a construction site in 2022A look at a construction site in 2022 (Image: Street View)

However locals in Acton and people travelling from Harlesden and other neighbouring areas in Brent have been heavily impacted by roadworks as the building took place – including the entire road being closed at one point as the Wycombe Line Bridge was demolished at the end of May 2023.

But people were shocked to hear at a consultation session in late February that HS2 is toying with the idea of fully shutting the road for four years in order to carry out further work.

It says that it needs to undertake utility diversion works and build new rail bridges to realign the Great Western Mainline.

HS2 also aims to lower and widen the road to allow double decker buses to go under the rail bridge.

Andrew Geehan, a dad from Harlesden, said two of his children travel to schools in Acton every day on the 266 bus route along Old Oak Lane and such a proposal would have a major impact to families in Brent and Acton.

He said: “My son is now in year 11 and taking his GCSEs, but ever since he started in Year 7 his journey to school has been blighted by the HSE works, road closures and temporary traffic lights around Old Oak Common.

“On bad days a 3.5 mile journey takes more than an hour. Now my 12-year-old daughter is also taking the same route to school and often arrives late because of bus diversions and traffic. We had hoped it was nearly over, but the idea that the road might be fully closed for another four years is really alarming.

“Lots of families from our area are affected, working parents aren’t able to drive their kids to school so we are just worried how long all the bus diversions will take to avoid the road closure.”

While plans for a four-year closure are not concrete, HS2 is looking at different ways the work can be carried out.

The Old Oak Neighbourhood Forum wrote to the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) : “The repercussions for those living (or travelling to work from) areas such as Wells House Road and the Old Oak Estate are immense.

“As has been regularly noted since the OPDC was established in 2015, the main north/south roads in this part of London are limited, already congested, and without nearby alternative routes.”

A HS2 Ltd spokesperson said: “In order to undertake utility diversion works, build new rail bridges, and lower and widen Old Oak Common Lane to allow for double decker buses to serve the station, we need to close Old Oak Common Lane for a period of time.

"HS2 takes it responsibilities to local communities very seriously and we try to minimise impacts wherever possible. We are in dialogue with residents about the works required and the options for the closure of Old Oak Common Lane.”