Hammersmith Bridge closes to pedestrians
December 2020. Stabilisation work starts to allow pedestrians to cross by end 2021.
August 2020. Hammersmith Bridge closed to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic following closure to traffic in April 2019. Prior to its full closure 16,000 people crossed the river on foot or bike every day, in addition to the 20,000 vehicles.
Hammersmith Bridge: History
The current Hammersmith Bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and was opened by the Prince of Wales on 11 June 1887. The bridge has long suffered structural problems and has been closed on several occasions due to the weight and volume of road traffic which it was not designed to support. The IRA made various attempts to blow it up.
Wandsworth Bridge Road
A local group, the Wandsworth Bridge Road Residents and Business Association (WBRA) has been set up following the enormous increase in traffic and congestion in the area to give voice on local issues that affect the lives, well-being and businesses of those living and working in the area.
Tideway Tunnel
The 25km Tideway Tunnel will run under the tidal section of the River Thames to take almost all the raw sewage and rainwater that now overflows into the river. Work started in November 2015 and is due to finish in 2025. Bazalgette's original sewerage system built between 1859 and 1865 was designed for 4m people and the overflow goes straight into the river.
Planning White Papers
The Government published two papers for consultation on the planning system in August 2020. One proposed a change in the way housing targets were set and met with a lot of criticism. The other, Planning for the Future, proposed major changes to the planning system. The Fulham Society commented on the second.