The Hammersmith Bridge, a vital 138-year-old London landmark linking Hammersmith and Barnes, has been closed to motor vehicles since structural cracks were identified in 2019. Recent statements from local officials indicate that the bridge may remain shut to vehicular traffic until 2035.

Fleur Anderson, the Labour MP for Putney, has expressed concerns that the bridge will not reopen by the end of the current parliamentary term in 2029, citing a likely timeline stretching to 2035. Anderson noted the extended closure period of nearly six years and pointed to slower-than-expected progress in initiating and completing necessary repairs.

Factors including delays in material availability, exacerbated by global events such as the war in Ukraine, have further complicated the restoration efforts.

Despite commitments made during the 2019 general election by then-Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to prioritize the reopening of the bridge, tangible progress remains limited.

The Department for Transport (DfT), collaborating with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Transport for London, has provided £13 million in funding towards preliminary works on the bridge.

This figure encompasses allocations for emergency exploratory works, initial stabilisation, geo-technical studies, and temporary resurfacing, according to departmental briefings.

However, an enduring and comprehensive funding solution for the full repair and reopening of the bridge is yet to be determined.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which is responsible for the bridge, had submitted a business case to the DfT in December 2022. However, this proposal has not been approved, nor has it been a focal point in subsequent meetings of government and local stakeholders.

As constituents continue to experience the ongoing impact of the bridge's closure, particularly on local transport services and traffic resilience, MPs from surrounding areas have voiced their support for renewed talks and efforts towards resolving the issue.

Sarah Olney, Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, criticized the previous government's inactivity regarding the bridge repairs, while Labour MP Andy Slaughter for Hammersmith advocated for a clarified funding agreement to expedite repair processes.

The Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce remains a critical platform for discussing further actions, potential funding mechanisms, and the wider implications for local communities affected by the continued closure.

As discussions on the bridge's future reconvene, there is hope among local representatives that renewed government involvement may accelerate the bridge's reopening timeline.