Will Hammersmith Bridge ever fully reopen?

The iconic Hammersmith Bridge, located in west London, has faced a series of setbacks over the years.

The large, green Victorian suspension bridge was first opened in 1887,designed for horse-drawn carriages and people travelling on foot.

After decades of serving Londoners without any issues, it was targeted by the IRA three times – once in 1939, once in 1996 by the Provisional IRA and once in 2000 by the Real IRA.

Two of the attacks damaged the bridge, but it later reopened after repairs.

But decades of corrosion and heavy traffic mean the bridge became too unsafe to remain open for cars, and it partially closed to buses and motorists in 2019.

Since then, its future has been uncertain. Pedestrians and cyclists were allowed to use it again in 2021 after it passed safety checks.

But its future over whether it will reopen fully remains uncertain. Millions of pounds have already been poured into opening the bridge for riders and pedestrians. The price tag for full reopening could be as high as £250 million, and if it can ever accept cars again, this might not happen until 2035.

The issue has sparked a debate over what should happen with London’s Victorian bridges like Hammersmith.

‘Extend the Tube across the river’

Campaigners, residents and politicians from both sides of the river are at loggerheads as the future of the bridge has been uncertain for seven years.

Locals behind the slogan ‘Hammersmith Bridge is open’ have pointed out that the bridge is not closed, it is just closed to cars.

Meanwhile, access to Charing Cross Hospital has reportedly been complicated by the axing of the bus routes, with worsened gridlock allegedly affecting Chiswick, Putney and Wandsworth.

Problems with public transport should be solved as a priority, Charles Campion, an architect from Barnes and a member of the Hammersmith Bridge is Open group, said.

He told Metro: ‘The bridge is open and more and more people are using it. But we need a public transport option. We need something now for the community and businesses.’

One of the options campaigners have proposed includes autonomous pods which would shuttle those who can’t or don’t want to pedal or walk and connect them to Hammersmith station.

Rob Noon said: ‘Pedestrians and cyclists can use it so leave it at that.’

Metro reader Jonathan Hib Bird proposed extending the Hammersmith & City line ‘south across the river instead.’ He also said an option could include building a new bridge next to the Victorian structure.

Ross Witney agreed that the £250 million price tag is worth it, adding that ‘it is a scandal that it’s taken this long and still, nothing has happened.’

Rebecca Mason suggested putting tolls on ‘all bridges west of Congestion charge zone. The money can be used to maintain all the bridges.’

Metro reader Alexnader Sutton said that while Victorian constructions like Albert Bridge are ‘pretty,’ but ‘without purpose if they no longer function for the purpose they were designed.’

Liam Downer-Sanderson, a Conservative councillor at Hammersmith & Fulham council, said the party would ‘build a temporary bridge to get buses, emergency vehicles and other traffic flowing as soon as possible,’ saying that this would be a ‘stake in the May elections.’

Fleur Anderson, the Labour MP for nearby Putney, has called for the bridge to reopen to motor traffic. Speaking at a protest for full reopening last week, she said the closure continues to impact Putney and Roehampton residents ‘every single day.’

She told The Times some residents are seeing their children less because of ‘the hours they spend in traffic.’

Campion, who is also part of Barnes Town Team, argued that the fears that business would suffer terribly’ have not materialised in the area, citing credit card data.

He labelled arguments of traffic being pushed elsewhere a ‘misrepresentation,’ claiming that traffic is down ‘even on Putney Bridge.’

‘People are looking for the perfect answer, which probably isn’t there. It is working quite well, but we need a public transport option,’ he said, adding that ‘there is a solution that can unite parties.’

Refurbishment works, and the costs, are complicated due to the bridge’s Grade II-listed status.

While it is owned by Hammersmith & Fulham council, the government is looking into an option that the council and Transport for London would each pay a third of the repair costs, while taxpayers would pay for the rest.

A spokesperson for the council told Metro: ‘Hammersmith Bridge, built in 1887, is one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges which is why it is also one of Britain’s most expensive to repair.

‘Following the submission of our bid last year, we are currently waiting to hear whether the Grade II listed bridge has been allocated money in the new £1billion Structures Fund for transport infrastructure including bridges, tunnels and roads.’

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