A west London bridge that banned motor traffic might never reopen to cars again due to a funding black hole, sparking fears of prolonged travel chaos.
London is facing a ticking time bomb with its ageing bridges that have been hit with structural issues that saw a weight limit imposed on Vauxhall Bridge recently.
Further west, Hammersmith and Albert Bridge have become a major sore point after the Grade II listed crossings closed to motor traffic, while pedestrians and cyclists can still use them.
Locals on both sides of the river were holding their breath for a full restoration of Hammersmith Bridge after journeys were disrupted due to bus diversions and traffic gridlock, especially in Putney.
But now the government appears to have shattered those dreams in a blow to residents relying on the bridge.
A report by the Hammersmith and Fulham council reveals that the government recommended that the borough apply for funding that would enable a phased repair instead of the full restoration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The council, which owns the bridge, had been eyeing up more money from the government’s £1 billion pot designed for major roads projects.
‘There is no financial option available that would allow its full restoration,’ the report says.
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Instead, it will bid for £128 million with a deadline to have the repair scheme completed by March 2030, meaning a full repair is ‘plainly not achievable in that timespan,’ the report noted.
The council has already spent to the tune of £54 million on repairs that have allowed the bridge to stay open to pedestrians and cyclists.
Fleur Anderson, the MP for Putney, said: ‘I am deeply disappointed that Hammersmith and Fulham Council has opted to pursue a £128 million repair plan in collaboration with the Department for Transport, rather than advocating for the full £300 million needed to restore the bridge for buses and other vehicles.