Calls for repairs and reopening of Hammersmith Bridge

For over five years, residents on both sides of the Hammersmith Bridge have suffered through congestion and diverted public transport routes as a result of the bridge’s closure.

The closure means that people in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames have effectively been cut off from bus links that connected them to the wider tube network in Hammersmith.

The London Assembly has therefore today called on the Government to release the funds from the Department for Transport for the bridge’s strengthening works.

It has also called on the Mayor as both Chair of Transport for London and Mayor of London to use his convening powers to do everything possible to support the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in its efforts to repair the bridge.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“For five long years, residents on both sides of Hammersmith Bridge have suffered through congestion and diverted public transport routes as a result of the Bridge’s closure.

“Beyond creating congestion, residents in South West London have been cut off from the wider Tube network in Hammersmith limiting their public transport options for getting to and from other parts of London.

“The UK Government must recognise its failure to accept the bridge's business case is delaying the progress of repairs and commit to the full release of funds from the Department for Transport for the bridge's strengthening works.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that:

• For over five years now residents on both sides of the Hammersmith Bridge have suffered through congestion and diverted public transport routes as a result of the bridges closure.
• The traffic chaos has extended far beyond the banks of the river itself and has caused congestion throughout south west London, with redirected vehicles clogging up streets they otherwise wouldn’t be using.
• The closure also means that people in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames have effectively been cut off from bus links that connected them to the wider tube network in Hammersmith.
• A business case for the repair works was submitted by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in December 2022 and is still awaiting a decision from the UK Government.

This Assembly calls for:

• The Mayor as both Chair of Transport for London and Mayor of London to use his convening powers to do everything possible to support the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in its efforts to repair the bridge.
• The UK Government to recognise its failure to accept the bridge's business case is delaying the progress of repairs.
• The UK Government to commit to the full release of funds from the Department for Transport for the bridge's strengthening works.