Hammersmith Bridge will take six-and-a-half YEARS to repair and won’t be opened until at least 2027
The Empire State Building took one year and 45 days to build: So how on Earth will it take six-and-a-half years to repair Hammersmith Bridge?
- Plans discussed last night by Baroness Vere of Norbiton, who leads task force
- She said full repairs to the 133-year-old structure would take six and a half years
- It was also revealed that the ferry service would not be operating until the spring
- Londoners have been aching for a replacement since its closure in April 2019
Hammersmith Bridge will not be reopened to traffic until 2027 – more than twice as long as previously feared, a task force has revealed.
The plans were discussed last night during a meeting hosted by Richmond Council, in which Baroness Vere of Norbiton, who leads the committee, said repairs would take six and a half years to complete.
But Hammersmith and Fulham councillor Sue Fennimore said funding applications sent to Transport for London (TfL), the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for Hammersmith Bridge were all refused or did not receive a reply.
Baroness Vere told the task force: ‘The impact on south west London is not something that the Government would want to be responsible for. We all have to have a commitment to see this project through to the end.
‘At this moment in time and I think you’ll agree, given the timeline of six and a half years, there are various options that should still be on the table while we establish what the long-term project looks like.’
London’s Hammersmith Bridge, pictured above, will not be reopened to traffic until 2027 – more than twice as long as previously feared, a task force has revealed
It was also mentioned that the ferry service, which will allow passengers to cross the Thames, will be up and running by the spring, as a result of a lengthy procurement process and delays.
Regarding costs, Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, Heidi Alexander, suggested: ‘I know this might not be music to people’s ears on this call, but I do wonder whether some form of toll may be required in future in order to enable the council to borrow against future toll income.’
A disappointed local whose children attend school across the river reacted to the announcement.
51-year-old Julia Watkins, who lives in Barnes, told the Evening Standard: ‘These long delays means children as young as six are having to cycle eight miles a day.
‘Old people are having to pay £40 a time for taxis to reach hospital for regular appointments.
‘Businesses are collapsing and ambulances can’t reach us.’
Children of local residents display their banners in protest. Hammersmith Bridge is closed to all traffic, cyclists and pedestrians, with people earlier gathering to voice their concerns
Hammersmith Bridge in west London, which was closed with little warning to pedestrians and cyclists after safety inspectors found cracks in the 133-year-old structure had worsened
Buildings that took less time to construct than the Hammersmith Bridge repairs
The Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, UAE
A high speed bullet train crosses the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge
Empire State Building, New York: One year and four days
Eiffel Tower, Paris: Two years, two months and five days
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge (the world’s longest bridge), on the Beijing-Shangahi high-speed railway: Four years
Burj Khalifa, Dubai: Six years
Buildings that took MORE time:
Great Pyramid of Giza: 20 years
Stonehenge, UK: 1500 years
On its website, the Government states: ‘Discussions between stakeholders on financing any interim measures and bridge stabilisation work have been constructive and are ongoing.
‘The taskforce wishes to see a resolution to this as quickly as possible to ensure that Londoners can quickly and safely cross and use the river.’
Hammersmith and Fulham Council, along with Richmond council, both believe the cost of reparations should be footed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and TfL.
But TfL says the Government first needs to pledge them cash for the entire project.
Londoners have been aching for a replacement, which could cost as much as £163million, since the Victoria bridge’s closure in April 2019 when they were forced to use other crossings further down the river.
The crossing was closed with little warning after safety inspectors found cracks in the 133-year-old structure had worsened following a heatwave in the summer.
MailOnline previously revealed that parents at the £39,000-a-year St Paul’s school were taking their children between the banks on small boats.
The Department for Transport said earlier this month that it is committed to implementing a solution for pedestrians and cyclists by early next year at the latest.
Hammersmith Bridge has become a political swingball, with both Conservatives and Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan batting responsibility back to the other for failing to fix it.
In a blazing war of words last month, Tory London Assembly member Tony Arbour told the Mayor he should ‘man up’ and take ownership of the problem because he had caused an ‘existential crisis’ for local businesses.
Mr Khan hit back: ‘It’s not an issue of “manning up”, it’s a question of the Government stepping up and providing the funding so desperately needed by residents and businesses.’
It was revealed yesterday that TfL has spent £16.7million over 13 years on reparation plans for the bridge, according to a freedom of information request submitted by New Civil Engineer.
More than £7.6million of the funds were spent after the first time the crossing closed to vehicles in 2019.
