London 2012 Olympic Games: Keeping the Roads Moving
Introducing the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and the Paralympic Route Network (PRN)...
Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (2012-03-01)TfL Corporate Archives
The ORN connected competition and non-competition venues
Using existing roads, it was designed to facilitate rapid and reliable Games Family travel to and from events or for other purposes connected with the Games. For the Paralympics the network was reduced in scale to form the PRN. Routes to key training venues were also included
Games Lane on Victoria Embankment
The majority of routes were part of the existing TfL road network and so the planning, design, delivery and operation of the ORN and PRN was led by TfL
Olympic Route Network and Paralympic Route Network (2012-03-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Extent of the ORN and PRN
The ORN and PRN roads remained open to general traffic, however access onto them was restricted
Olympic Route Network on Road Event days: Euston Road to Old Street Roundabout (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives
Parts of the ORN and PRN were used for Road Races
Specific re-routing was planned and implemented during the marathon, cycle races, walking races, and triathlon
Journey times were also enhanced through activities including;
· Traffic signal improvements
· Temporary road re-engineering, e.g. simplification of junctions
· Reduction in crossing points
· Ban on roadworks and enhanced response to incidents
· Messaging to drivers
· Retiming of freight and deliveries to night time
ORN and PRN in the City on Road Event Days
Area wide signal strategies were developed utilising in house knowledge, modelling techniques, and other systems to allow flexible use of Games Lanes
All frontages and premises within 400 metres of the ORN were consulted both informally and formally by letter, email, drop in sessions, and exhibitions.
During the Olympic Games, only c.40% of Games Lanes were typically in operation each day, with the remainder managed flexibly and opened to all traffic. During the Paralympic Games c.30% were typically in operation
TfL worked with a range of business organisations, such as the Freight Transport Association, Road Haulage Association, the Federation of Small Businesses, and Chambers of Commerce, to ensure that knowledge about the impact of the Games was distributed to the widest audience possible.
Is Your Business Ready for the Games?
Presentations were made to 21,786 businesses; adverts were placed in trade journals and newspapers; a direct mail to 200,000 businesses was sent in Spring 2011. c.42,000 information packs were sent out in early 2012 and a further 20,000 packs were distributed in person
Story compiled by TfL using information in records at the Transport for London Corporate Archives. The Corporate Archives seeks to preserve and make accessible records, not to interpret them. A wider range of material is available for physical consultation.
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