A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge across the Thames is set to go ahead after a short list of locations was narrowed down to the final winner.
A preferred location has been identified for a new Thames bridge linking Nine Elms and Pimlico by the bridge design team, appointed by Wandsworth Council.
Whilst all three shortlisted locations were deemed to be viable, the recommended location has been seen as the best opportunity to create links between the Vauxhall Nine Elms Battersea (VNEB) Opportunity Area with local neighbourhoods on the north side of the river.
The location is a bit of a surprise, as the favoured placement had been opposite the new US Embassy building, as analysis by TfL in 2013 found that location to be likely to be the best in terms of people using the bridge.
That particular location was however also opposed by a lot of people living on the north side of the river.
The current design, which hasn’t been finalised, is for a couple of corkscrew spirals at either end leading up to the bridge across the river.
Funding for the bridge is also still to be raised, and although £26 million has been secured from the developers putting up all those towers in Nine Elms, the estimated cost for the bridge to be built is somewhere in the region of £40 million, leaving a sizeable shortfall to be filled.
Last March, the Mayor of London confirmed that “TfL is not in a position to provide funding for the construction and ongoing maintenance of this scheme”.
Robin Snell of Robin Snell and Partners and project team lead, said: “If approved by the Scrutiny Committee we look forward to progressing to the next stage of the Design process, continuing to talk to Londoners about our plans and helping to deliver what will be a landmark new Bridge for London.”
Wandsworth Council’s Finance and Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee is being asked to approve the recommendation of the project team before any further stages can be considered.
Update – the Nine Elms Bridge website was quoting £240 million in their Phase 1 report, but that reference has since been removed, and Wandsworth council are stating the cost at £40 million. I’ve updated the article accordingly.
Stupid place to put it (just to appease the Pimlico gardens mob) should be more equidistant between the two road bridges.
My bridge is better than that, but it was in the competition for the Millennium Bridge at Bankside. This bridge would not have been considered due to the suspension cables interfering with St Pauls sight lines.Seems like a big cost too.
The recommended new spot a little up river and not right up the nose of the new embassy ~ with all the security guff that that siting would have entailed, real or imagined is perfect, surely?
Why, now your retired James Bond in his grace and favour maisonette in Dolphin Square just has to toddle off over the bridge and up to the pool in the sky at the old power station, there to slurp his way through any number of Martinis.
£240 million? That seems awfully expensive for a relatively lightweight pedestrian and cycle only bridge. Why so much? The Millennium Bridge apparently cost under £20 million, albeit 20 years ago. Double that and you’d still have £200 million to spare…
I can see why more new bridges are to be built over the River Thames that will connect from the South bank to the North bank. What about a new Thames Crossing bridge that will connect with the A205 South Circular Rd and A406 North Circular Rd.
Wot – no garden? 😉
The estimated cost of the bridge is 40 million pounds not 240.
The Stage 1 report from their website used to quote £240 million, although that’s since been removed and there’s no longer a cost available.
Let’s also make sure that they destroy for good all the important archaeology on the banks of the Thames at this spot without survey or considering locals’opinion. £240 million for a pedestrians and cyclists bridge? I bet developers will add a few buildings by reclaiming public access land over water at this price. What a joke.
Please use the money for something NHS related.Thats a must.
The website was. Not the website were
Site is singular 🙂
The cost is £40m at 2013 prices not current or future prices. Wandsworth Council will not say what it will be at 2020 prices but rumour has it the cost is North of £80m and climbing. Westminster Council have not bought into this and are refusing any support financial or otherwise, so no consensus on a way forward. This could be the world’s most expensive river pier! Time to call a halt to Wandsworth Councillors vanity project and stop wasting tax payers money