Drivers reminded that final preparations for the Olympic Route Network begin tonight

Transport for London (TfL) is reminding road users that work starts at 9pm tonight (July 20) to ensure the Olympic Route Network (ORN) in London is ready to begin operation on Wednesday, July 25.

To keep disruption to a minimum, the majority of work will take place overnight and will last five nights.

Enforcement of the Games lanes and the official switch on of the ORN will not be until 6am on Wednesday, July 25.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “The Olympic Route Network is a requirement of all Host Cities and is vital in ensuring athletes, officials and the world’s media get to their events on time.

“Its length was slashed by one third of what had been planned and we’re working hard to introduce changes to the road network as late as possible, to minimise the impact on Londoners and businesses.

“But with the Games just over a week away, we’re into the home straight and are working flat out to ensure we are ready to welcome the world.”

Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director surface transport, said: “Our advice to road users is clear – don’t get caught out. Avoid driving in central London, around the ORN and Games venues. If a journey by road is absolutely essential, plan ahead at GetAheadoftheGames.com and allow extra time.”

The final stage of work over the weekend, which will be carried out by up to 2,000 contractors, includes installing barriers for the restricted turns and simplifying junctions.

The physical changes to the road network along the ORN will keep traffic flowing along the route where, in additional to any non-Games traffic, there will be 1,300 vehicles an hour carrying the athletes, officials and world’s media to their events on time.

Work to install three temporary pedestrian footbridges at Hyde Park Corner will also take place from Friday.

Most work will be overnight and will include short closures of parts of Hyde Park Corner and interim diversions.

The bridges will help crowds get to and from the numerous Olympic and cultural events in the area, including the Olympic venues in Hyde Park, The Mall and Horse Guards Parade and the BT London Live site in Hyde Park. They will be situated between Grosvenor Crescent and the Wellington Arch island and Green Park.

Overnight on Tuesday, July 24 designated pedestrian crossings will be suspended and parking and loading bays along the route will be removed.

The ORN covers 109 miles in total in London although Games lanes will only be used on 30 miles of the network.

They will operate alongside lanes for general traffic and will be reserved for the use of the athletes, coaches, technical officials and the world’s media.

The Games lanes will generally operate between 6am and midnight.

A penalty charge of £130 will be issued to owners of vehicles who break the regulations in London, including driving in Games lanes or stopping along the route and any illegally parked vehicle will be removed to a vehicle pound and may incur a release fee of £200.

Motorists should also avoid the areas around the Road Event courses on competition days such as the Cycling Road Races on July 28 and 29, the Cycle Time Trial on August 1 and the Women’s and Men’s Marathons on August 5 and 12.