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

Photograph of a dedicated Games Lane (2012-07-02)TfL Corporate Archives

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

Olympic Route Network on Road Event days: Old Street Roundabout to Tower Hill (2012-07-01)TfL Corporate Archives

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.

Road sign for 2012 Games Lane, 2012-08-01, From the collection of: TfL Corporate Archives
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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 leaflet (2011-08-03)TfL Corporate Archives

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

Credits: Story

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.

Permission is granted to reproduce for personal and educational use only.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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