A busy road in Twickenham will be closed this weekend in a trial run for the Rugby World Cup.
Part of the A316 will be shut on Saturday (August 15), from 5pm until approximately 11.45pm, before, during and after England's match against France.
The road will also be closed on Saturday September 5, from three hours before England and Ireland kick off at 2.30pm until about two hours after the match ends.
Hounslow and Richmond Councils have teamed up with Transport for London to request the closure of the road, between London Road Roundabout and Hospital Bridge Road, for Rugby World Cup matches at Twickenham Stadium.
They say it will allow additional shuttle buses to run to the venue from central London and from park and ride facilities at Kempton Park and Hounslow Civic Centre. They also claim it will make it safer for spectators to cross the road on foot.
Whitton Road, Rugby Road, Mogden Lane and part of Whitton Dene will also be closed on match days.
Richmond Council says residents and businesses who will be cut off by the closure should already have received their passes allowing them to access their properties.
Councillor Stephen Speak, Richmond Council's cabinet member for transport, said: "We know that the temporary closure of part of the A316 is a big step, in addition to the normal match day closures. But it will make it easier for large crowds to walk to and from the stadium and to serve the needs of visitors using coaches and public transport.
"We have worked hard over many months to try and ensure that residents and businesses are informed of the impact and the arrangements. We have also sent out around 5,000 vehicle access passes to residents.
"Trialing these arrangements is a very important step and on August 15th I will be monitoring the situation myself both on the streets and from the council's control room. After the match, residents are invited to let us have their feedback at the drop in session arranged."
Should the trial closure prove successful in the upcoming internationals it will be in place for all 10 matches being hosted at Twickenham Stadium during the Rugby World Cup.
Following the first match, a resident and business feedback session has been arranged for August 20, from 4pm-7pm at Clarendon Hall, in Twickenham.
Garrett Emmerson, chief operating officer of surface transport at TfL, said: "The Rugby World Cup 2015 will make London a brilliant place to be this autumn, and the start of rugby fever in Richmond begins now. Everyone will still be able to travel during matches at Twickenham, but we're asking regular users of the A316 to plan ahead and change their route."
An online guide to getting around during the tournament, designed to help local residents and businesses beat the crush, went live earlier this month.
More details about the proposed road closures during the Rugby World Cup are available here.
