On Tuesday, the cycle lane of the Hammersmith bridge will reopen to the public, after a four-year-long closure that has become a major issue for both Hammersmith and Barnes residents. Local business like pubs, restaurants and convenient stores, have all been heavily affected by the lack of access between the North (Hammersmith area) and South banks (Barnes area).
Hammersmith Bridge to Temporarily Reopen for Cyclists
People will be able to ride bikes across for ten weeks https://t.co/4x1E9qaVxX pic.twitter.com/9alojChRDO
— HammersmithToday (@nnhammersmith) February 8, 2024
The 19th century bridge is a grade two structure, designated due to its particular architectural and/or historic interest deserving of special protection. It has been wrapped up in scaffoldings since Hammersmith and Fulham council decided to close it for safety issues.
The temporary reopening will last for 10 weeks, as the bridge is still in a fragile state. While some residents are pleased to cycle in Hammersmith again, others expressed concerns over the lack of political activity. This was the case for Larry, a 45-year-old local resident, who spoke to City News about security measures in the area. With the bridge being closed, ambulances and Police routinely struggle to access Barnes. Larry also fears the closing down of some of his favourite local hotspots.
In a statement, Cllr Sharon Holder said:
“We are committed to the full re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles including buses, and we are doing all in our powers to deliver on that commitment. But we are a small local authority, and we must have the financial support of the DfT and TfL, as well as an agreement to fund our share via a toll.”
City News interviewed Andy Slaughter, Labour MP for Hammersmith, who claims that “the decision to reopen the bridge to cyclists is hopeful for the future”. However, the MP did acknowledge that the lack of development has come as a result of political disputes between local authorities and the government. MP Slaughter also fears that improvements could take a long time, potentially many months at least.
Money is another concern. The the complete reopening of the bridge is estimated to cost up to 250 million pounds, which none of the local governments or TFL are willing to pay by themselves.
It is possible to expect a full reopening of the bridge for cyclists and pedestrians by the end of this year. Access for motor vehicles, however, is yet to be properly announced.
