Transport for London (TfL) has announced a long-term diversion for cyclists using London’s East-West cycle superhighway resulting from construction works for the 25km-long ‘Super Sewer’ under the Thames.

Digging begins on Victoria Embankment in January with a diversion for cyclists in place by January 23. The change is likely to remain in place until 2021.

The Super Sewer works affect the link between the East-West (CS3) and North-South (CS6) cycle superhighways and will involve use of a slip road that is currently used by vehicles.

The new stretch linking the two routes will still feature segregated two-way cycle lanes and so westbound motor traffic will be diverted from that road from Monday January 2.

Drivers wanting to turn left from Blackfriars Bridge onto the Embankment will be sent on a two-mile detour via Waterloo Bridge.

According to the London Evening Standard, TfL modelling suggests that no more than 200 drivers an hour turn west from Blackfriars Bridge, although the diversion is likely to add to queues elsewhere.

Garrett Emmerson, TfL’s chief operating officer for surface transport, said: ‘We think we have minimised as far as possible the transport impacts, the cycle impacts and the construction impacts, but it’s a very big project.”