With the road bridge at Hammersmith closed for repairs, TfL has confirmed that it’s looking at building a temporary replacement – for cyclists and pedestrians.
Before it was restricted to pedestrians and cyclists in April 2019, Hammersmith Bridge carried 22,000 vehicles a day and 24,000 bus passengers.
In order to speed up repairs, they want to close the bridge entirely, but that would affect the 16,000 people who walk and cycle over the bridge at the moment. A replacement temporary bridge has been suggested several times recently, and now TfL has confirmed that it will push ahead with the plans.
The temporary bridge being proposed is a prefabricated steel structure, supported by two piers in the river. The bridge would be step free and have a 5.5-metre-wide space for pedestrians and cyclists. It would be accessed by shallow ramps from Queen Caroline Street on the north bank and from close to the junction of Castelnau and Riverview Gardens on the south bank.
Subject to the planning process, works should begin in the summer, with the opening of the temporary bridge expected this coming winter.
TfL has committed £25m towards the projected costs of the restoration of the bridge and installation of a temporary bridge. This contribution has funded early investigations, the initial feasibility, monitoring and concept design work, and it is expected to be sufficient to cover the cost of a temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists.
However, there is still a significant shortfall in funding to repair the main road bridge — and if the money can’t be found, the temporary bridge could become rather more permanent.
TfL is hosting public drop-in exhibitions about the proposals. They are being held at the following times:
- Saturday 14 March, 11:00 to 15:00, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, W6 9BN
- Tuesday 17 March, 18:00 to 21:00, Castelnau Community Centre, Barnes, SW13 9AQ
- Thursday 19 March, 16:00 to 20:00, Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, W6 9BN
- Saturday 21 March, 13:00 to 17:00, St Michael & All Angels, Barnes, SW13 0NX
If there isn’t funding to repair the bridge for cars, is there any point in building the temporary bridge? The existing bridge seems capable of taking pedestrians and cyclists.
How much would it cost to just knock down a rebuild? Sure it’s listed and we should do our utmost to preserve it, but it’s a crucial transport link and getting it back in action has to take priority. The adjacent river crossings cannot take the increased traffic forever.
I am assuming this is a step to making the project shovel ready and therefore unlock some Govt funding as today’s budget is supposed to bring a splurge of capital funding. As regards the traffic, rebuilding bridges is fine, but we need long term reductions in car traffic generally for health and climate reasons. The Hammersmith bridge is a horrible place to cycle, so I would hope the temporary bridge could stay as a much safer route across the river.
Eminently sensible solution. I must admit that it was rather special to be able to walk down the middle of the road carriageway between the closure and the present restrictions were put in place.
It has been crying out from day one for a temporary crossing so that a proper unencumbered programme of works can be carried out on this lovely bridge.
I just hope that we aren’t left with an ugly central support like the one at Albert bridge downriver.