It’s been the talk of the town (and the Thames) for quite some time now, but following a rather hefty – and pretty darn expensive – refurbishment, Hammersmith Bridge has just reopened to cyclists. Wheely great news, right?
The Grade II* listed bridge has been closed to all vehicles since some pesky cracks were discovered in its infrastructure back in 2019. The bridge’s fate has been a hot topic of discussion ever since, with plenty of Londoners putting their two cents in on what they think should happen to it. And although the bridge’s long-term future is still not particularly certain, the fact that you can now officially walk and cycle across it feels like a step in the right direction.
The reopening of Hammersmith Bridge follows a £2.9 million refurbishment projectcourtesy of a generous grant from the Department for Transport. The bridge’s main carriageway now boasts three lanes – two for cyclists (one in each direction) and one for pedestrians. The work that’s been completed includes the wooden decking being replaced, the carriageway being resurfaced, the accessibility to wheelchair users being improved, and anti-terror safety measures being installed.
Further plans to reopen the 138-year old Victorian suspension bridge to motor vehicles are still being developed. There is a possibility this will never happen but Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the Department for Transport are currently considering a variety of options and solutions in order to confirm the long-term destiny of Hammersmith Bridge.
