PLANNED works to a bridge in South Norwood are expected to cause traffic chaos on Crystal Palace match-days when the season starts.
The Penge Road bridge, known as Goat House Bridge, requires strengthening by Network Rail to meet modern weight limits for buses and heavy vehicles.
The work starts in August just before the new football season, when Palace and other Premier League fans descend on South Norwood in their thousands.
Peter Gillman, a retired war correspondent and resident in nearby Anerley, thinks there could be chaos.
Mr Gillman said: "I am totally aghast at the disruption this will cause.
"It's going to be chaos during the week anyway but I am sure it will be utterly gridlocked for games.
"Traffic on match-days already causes problems for supporters.
"There aren't many ways into Selhurst Park from the Bromley side anyway so if you are coming from there then you're probably going to be stuffed.
"There will probably be queues all the way to Penge."
Preliminary work on Goat House Bridge will begin in August but the main work will commence in November, to be completed by February.
Tennison Road bridge, in South Norwood, will also be undergoing work and will be replaced with a new structure.
At different stages of the works, Goat House Bridge will be either partially closed to cars or fully closed to cars and pedestrians.
Dates for the works on the Croydon Council website indicate that the bridge will be fully closed for the home fixtures against Everton (November 9) and Stoke (January 18).
A Network Rail spokesman said: "We have notified the club about the bridge works at both Penge Road and Tennison Road.
"The main work on Penge Road will happen between November and February.
"We are trying to maintain pedestrian access at all times but there will be occasions when the Penge Road bridge has to be closed to both traffic and pedestrians.
"However, we will try as hard as we can to avoid those being on Crystal Palace match-days."
A Crystal Palace spokesman admitted there would be disruption to South Norwood High Street but added the club would warn fans via its website of any major problems.
