Hammersmith Bridge may remain off-limits to vehicles for up to another ten years, a Labour MP has cautioned.
This historic 138-year-old structure, which connects Hammersmith with Barnes in south-west London, has been closed to motor traffic since 2019 due to the discovery of cracks in its pedestals.
Putney MP Fleur Anderson stated that it is unrealistic to anticipate the bridge’s reopening before the conclusion of the current Parliament, arguing that “even if work commenced now, it would still take a decade to complete.”
She attributed the delay to the Conservative government’s inaction over the past five years regarding the bridge’s repairs, suggesting that a full reopening might not occur until 2035. The Conservative party has been approached for comment.
The estimated cost to fully restore and reopen the bridge has escalated significantly since its closure, reaching around £250 million last year.
Anderson emphasized her primary concern: the detrimental effects the bridge’s closure has had on local bus services, noting it has made the surrounding road network less robust during other disruptions, like utility work.
In her remarks to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she expressed frustration: “It has nearly been six years since it closed.
“If the previous government had taken action six years ago, we could have accomplished the repairs by now, but everything seems to have stalled.”
She pointed out that factors such as the ongoing war in Ukraine have impacted the availability of steel, introducing complications that were unforeseen at the time. “The longer this drags on, the more challenging it becomes,” she added.
When asked if she thought the bridge would realistically be reopened by the end of 2029, Anderson responded, “No, sadly. Even starting now, we would face a decade of construction. So, we’re looking at a distant timeline.”
During the 2019 general election, the then-Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, visited the bridge and assured that the Conservative government would not let it stay closed indefinitely.
Shapps later formed a taskforce in 2020, but that group held its final meeting in November 2021.
The taskforce is set to reconvene on January 30, led by Labour’s Minister for Local Transport, Simon Lightwood.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport (DfT) stated: “We are continuing to collaborate closely with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Transport for London concerning the bridge, and the department has contributed £13 million in funding for the project thus far.
“The Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce will serve as an important platform for stakeholders to discuss the progress of repair efforts, potential next steps, and the effects on local traffic.”
Anderson has encouraged her constituents to reach out to the DfT before the upcoming taskforce meeting to express their concerns about the closure’s impact.
She is also hosting a meeting on Saturday to provide updates and gather feedback from residents on the situation.
Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, described the re-initiation of discussions regarding the bridge’s reopening as a “positive step,” particularly after the previous government’s lack of engagement.
He mentioned that “the only outstanding issue regarding the bridge is determining who will finance the repairs and to what extent.”
Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, remarked, “The failure to commit to the repair of Hammersmith Bridge tarnishes the legacy of the former Conservative government.
“The business case for repairs sat untouched on the minister’s desk for more than a year before any action was taken.”
She expressed optimism that the revival of the taskforce signaled that the Labour government is prepared to take responsibility and allocate its share of the funding necessary for restoring Hammersmith Bridge.
