Sadiq Khan's controversial pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has sparked traffic chaos, with motorists facing lengthy queues as vehicles are diverted away from the road for the first time.
The London Mayor's long-awaited scheme came into force yesterday, banning cars, buses, taxis and cyclists from almost a kilometre of the capital's busiest shopping street.
But while Oxford Street has been cleared of traffic, the move has already caused congestion on neighbouring roads, with lengthy queues reported during Monday morning's rush hour.
In one video taken on Wigmore Street today, cars and buses can be seen backed up in standstill traffic along the majority of the road.
Motorists, black cab drivers and buses have been forced to find alternative routes through the West End after the closure of the busy thoroughfare between Orchard Street, near Selfridges, and Great Portland Street.
Speaking to the Daily Mail Tim Barnes, Westminster City Councillor for Growth and Planning said: 'We have been concerned from the outset that taking London's main east-west road and pushing it to the smaller side roads behind was always going to inevitably lead to traffic problems.
'You just can't take that much traffic out of central London and push it on to roads that are smaller, less well suited to taking big vehicles, and not expect it to cause problems.
While Oxford Street has been cleared of traffic, the move has already caused congestion on neighbouring roads, with lengthy queues reported during Monday morning's rush hour
In one video taken on Wigmore street today, cars and buses can be seen backed up in standstill traffic along the majority of the road
Motorists, black cab drivers and buses have been forced to find alternative routes through the West End after the closure of the busy thoroughfare between Orchard Street, near Selfridges, and Great Portland Street
'Last night there were there were all sorts of complications. There was traffic on Regent Street that was backed up, and indeed it stopped for so long at times that we even saw a big waste truck having to turn around and go the wrong way [up the street].
'And if you look at Wigmore Street, there are points where buses now have to make very, very hard right-hand turns or 90-degree turns, which I think will be a problem for pedestrians and cyclists. I also think it's only a matter of time until we see more incidents with cyclists hitting pedestrians on Oxford Street itself.'
The changes have prompted fears that traffic, noise and pollution will simply be pushed on to smaller residential roads, leaving those living and working nearby to bear the brunt of the Mayor's flagship project.
Among the roads affected by the new arrangements are Wigmore Street, Henrietta Place and Cavendish Place, which are now accommodating diverted bus services.
Transport for London has confirmed that five bus routes - the 98, 139, 390, N98 and N207 - have been redirected on to surrounding roads, with new stops introduced to accommodate passengers.
Other services have been shortened or altered, while taxis and private hire vehicles are no longer permitted to enter the pedestrianised section.
The upheaval comes despite warnings from Westminster City Council that the scheme risked creating serious problems for residents, businesses and motorists.
Councillor Tim Barnes, the council's deputy leader, previously accused the Mayor of rushing the project without adequately addressing concerns about its impact.
He warned: 'If this is going to be the "greener, better and more prosperous" success that the mayor has promised, then issues around access, air pollution, street cleaning and public safety need answers urgently.
'Right now there's a danger that we will have all of the downsides and too little upside.
'Traffic will be pushed to the small streets nearby causing economic and environmental harm.'
Residents in neighbouring Marylebone had also raised concerns before the closure that their streets would become increasingly congested as buses and other vehicles were forced away from Oxford Street.
The Marylebone Association previously calculated that Wigmore Street could see around 46 additional bus movements an hour during peak periods.
Henrietta Place has also been converted to accommodate two-way traffic as part of preparations for the scheme.
The changes represent a major transformation of one of Britain's most famous shopping destinations, which attracts around 500,000 visitors every day.
Under the new restrictions, buses, taxis, private cars, bicycles, scooters and pedicabs are banned from the pedestrianised section.
Delivery vehicles are permitted access only between midnight and 7am using designated routes, while emergency vehicles retain access at all times.
Several roads crossing Oxford Street remain open, including Regent Street, Duke Street and Great Portland Street, although other junctions have been permanently altered.
Despite the disruption, Sir Sadiq has hailed the transformation as a landmark moment for London.
The Mayor, who first proposed pedestrianising Oxford Street in 2016, described the launch as 'a truly momentous occasion for the capital'.
He hopes the project will transform the shopping destination into a world-class pedestrian boulevard, rivalling famous locations such as New York's Times Square and Paris's Champs-Élysées.
The scheme forms part of a wider regeneration programme designed to breathe new life into the West End amid changing shopping habits and growing competition from online retailers.
Plans include more than 50 new trees, two public squares, additional seating and improved lighting, with further changes expected by spring next year.
