Drivers in Sidcup will need to rethink their routes from next week as one of the area’s residential streets faces up to four months of closures for water mains replacement.
The Spinney, a quiet residential road in the DA14 5 area of Sidcup, is set to be closed to traffic along its entire length while mains replacement works are carried out by MGroup Water on behalf of Thames Water.
The works are due to begin on Monday (26 October), and Bexley Council has made a temporary traffic order allowing vehicles to be prohibited from using the entire length of the road while the works take place.
What we know so far
- Where: The Spinney, Sidcup — the whole length of the road
- When: from Monday 26 October 2026
- How long: works expected to take 132 days — around four months
- Who: MGroup Water, carrying out the works on behalf of Thames Water
- Legal basis: a temporary traffic order from Bexley Council, valid for 18 months
One important detail for anyone living on or near the road: the restrictions will apply only when indicated by traffic signs. Drivers will not necessarily face a continuous four-month closure — the road will be shut when the works require it, with signs put in place to tell motorists what is in force on any given day.
Why the order lasts 18 months but the works take four
Temporary traffic orders in London routinely run for 18 months as standard. That is the maximum legal window the council can allow, not a prediction of how long the disruption will last. In this case the works themselves are expected to be finished within 132 days — but the longer order gives the contractors room to deal with delays, such as bad weather, without having to go back to the council for a fresh order.
So if you see 18 months on the paperwork, don’t panic: the four-month estimate is the one that matters.
Where the road is and who is affected
The Spinney sits in a residential pocket of Sidcup, close to The Grove and High Beeches in the DA14 5 postcode area. It is not a main road, but residents, visitors and delivery drivers who use it regularly will need to plan alternatives when signs are up.
Because the closure applies to the road’s entire length rather than a single section, there is no way of slipping part-way through while works are under way. The best advice is to check TfL’s road status information before setting off, and to follow the diversion and closure signs on the day rather than assuming the road is open.
Mains replacement: why it happens
Water companies regularly replace ageing mains across the capital to reduce bursts, leaks and supply interruptions. Thames Water has been carrying out rolling mains replacement across its network, and roads like The Spinney are chosen because the old pipes beneath them have reached the end of their working life.
The works can be disruptive in the short term, but they are designed to prevent the kind of sudden burst that closes a road without warning — and which tends to cause far longer chaos. Harrow is dealing with exactly that kind of unplanned disruption right now, where a burst water main has closed the A409 in both directions with bus diversions in place.
What to do next week
- Watch for traffic signs on The Spinney from Monday 26 October — closures are only in force when signs say so
- Allow extra time if you live on or near the road, particularly for school runs and commutes
- Check TfL road status before travelling, as works phases can shift week to week
- If you have deliveries or tradespeople visiting, warn them in advance — they may need a different approach
- It is not the only disruption on London’s roads this week — check our guide to the M25 closures around Heathrow this weekend if you are travelling further afield
Four months sounds like a long time for a single street. But with the closures phased around the signs rather than continuous, the real-world impact may be lighter than the headline suggests — as long as you check before you travel.
