London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Apr 26, 2025

Hammersmith Bridge Restoration Expected to Extend Until 2035, MP Reports

Hammersmith Bridge Restoration Expected to Extend Until 2035, MP Reports

Funding and strategic delays cited as major obstacles in the reopening of the historic London bridge.
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.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Alberta's Push for Independence Raises Questions About Canada's National Unity
Virginia Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser, dies by suicide
"China has survived for five thousand years, most of it without the United States as a market, and it can easily continue to survive without the U.S. market for another five thousand years — no problem," said a China analyst.
Elites vs. America: How Democrats Lost the Plot and the People
Pam Bondi Details Wisconsin Judge’s Actions Before Arrest: 'Can't Make This Up'
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Peter Navarro: The Man Behind Trump’s Tariff Madness
Milwaukee Judge Arrested on Allegations of Aiding Undocumented Immigrant’s Escape
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Trump administration moves to BAN essentially ALL artificial food dyes in the USA food supply at RFK Jr.'s direction
Woman slaps man at sports game and gets herself and husband beat up
Pope Francis: head of the Catholic church who pushed for social and economic justice
China do not pay these tariffs - you pay it. This is new 145% tax you pay to the US government.
Nightlife in the streets of Manchester
In God We Profit
Cultural Battles in the Vatican: The Candidates in the Battle for the Holy See and Pope Francis's Testament
Global Leaders Pay Tribute to Pope Francis Following His Death
Wild Chimpanzees Observed Bonding Over Alcoholic Fruit
US Federal Reserve Chair Issues Warning on Tariff Impact
UK Prison Officers Demand Electric Stun Guns Amid Safety Concerns
China, China, China!
Australian National Charged as Mercenary for Fighting in Ukraine
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Prince Andrew Joins Royal Family Attends Easter Sunday Service at Windsor Castle
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
Trump is assembling a coalition of Western leaders aligned with the MAGA vision, strengthening a unified front for global change
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Here’s a police officer with a brilliant gift for swift education
"Some complain that we put thousands in prison. In reality, we set millions free."
This is Vienna, Austria in 2025.
Boeing Jet Returns to US from China Amid Tariff War
Canadian Federal Election: Candidates' Positions on US-Canada Relations and Donald Trump
Resentencing Hearing for Menendez Brothers Who Killed Their Parents Delayed Amid Legal Disputes
Australian Woman Gives Birth To Stranger's Baby In IVF Mix-up
US Sets Deadline for Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Brokerage
Italy Introduces 'Sex Rooms' in Prisons for Inmates
California Launches Legal Challenge Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
"Groundless": China Dismisses Zelensky's Claims It's Supplying Arms To Russia
UK Psytrance Festival Cancelled Amid Local Protests Over Noise Concerns
French Far-Right Writer Renaud Camus Denied Entry to UK
UK Police Force Updates Search Policy for Trans Individuals in Custody
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Meets with Donald Trump to Discuss EU-US Trade Tensions
Canada's Federal Party Leaders Engage in Final Debate Ahead of General Election
Ukraine and US Sign Outline of Minerals Deal
Fast Food Chain Refuses to Apologize for Online Comment About Katy Perry's Space Voyage
New York Attorney General Letitia James Faces Criminal Referral for Alleged Mortgage Fraud
Mark Cuban admits support for Trump executive order: ‘Gotta be honest’
US Senator Meets with Deported Immigrant in El Salvador Amid Custody Dispute
×