Forum Topic

Hammersmith Bridge

Re-opening for pedestrians and cyclists this weekend.

Carl Wynne ● 1928d30 Comments

This is great news. And so is this:“To secure its maintenance, and keep it open through until the next century, we believe it is vital that the motorists who use the bridge pay for its upkeep”. Cllr Cowan.So road charging or a toll scheme are part of the future plan with TfL and the DfT.  Good judgment.

Paul Campbell ● 1928d

If a road charging scheme was able to fund keeping the bridge in good repair, then it might be a worthwhile exercise. However, the bridge was never built for modern traffic and the fact that its structure seems to be failing suggests that it would only be a matter of time before more major work would be needed and it would have to be closed again.

Richard Greenhough ● 1928d

Not going to be up to keeping 33,72,209,419,485 bus routes going.Sorry if I've got the routes wrong.

James Roy ● 1928d

Yes, good news but expect closures when they eventually get around to repair work.Hopefully the management team will be able to give advanced notice so people can plan around closures.It also begs the question what exactly has been done (if anything) to make it safe or is just the health and safety bods have relented?

Adrian Irving ● 1928d

https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2021/07/hammersmith-bridge-re-open-pedestrians-and-cyclists-weekendMore info here on why it’s now considered safe to open, including the phrase ‘safety risk is kept acceptably low’. I wonder what ‘acceptably low’ means.

David Turner ● 1928d

David,  the answer is up to one in two thousand seven hundred won't make to the far side.I think you will find that is correct.

Adrian Irving ● 1928d

Oh that’s reassuring, thanks Adrian. Good to also read in that link that LBHF are working at full speed to draw up a timetable for repairs.

David Turner ● 1928d

Is there a timetable for drawing up this timetable?

Ken Munn ● 1928d

Dunno Ken. You’ll probably have to speak to the facilitator of the coordination of timetable timetabling.

David Turner ● 1927d

Any discounts for Jaguar drivers?Asking for a friend.

Russell Pearson ● 1927d

"So road charging or a toll scheme are part of the future plan with TfL and the DfT.  Good judgment."Says the man who drives a Jag and demands free cycling.

David Lesniak ● 1927d

How do you know what car (if any) Paul drives?

Matthew Swain ● 1927d

Stalking?

Ken Munn ● 1927d

Better a Jaguar than a BMW.

Richard Greenhough ● 1927d

No, Ken. From the looks of Paul's Twitter, he's the one doing the stalking. As to Matthew's question, I simply like to use my eyes and ears. Amazing what can be learned when not knee-deep in TfL and LCC/HCC rhetoric.

David Lesniak ● 1927d

This seems the right way to go, larger cars should pay double though 😉

Janice Evans ● 1926d

He knows I have a car and he likes to imagine me in a Jaguar Matt. I don't think Jaguar make family hatchbacks but the truth isn't relevant to these people. It doesn't matter how many times I disabuse him, Loraine and the dimwit Onesies. After all these are people who lie to national newspapers and deliberately doctor data in press releases and feed misinformation to confused Councillors to make them look ridiculous in Council meetings so why would we expect them to elevate their conduct on this forum?It's their fan fiction so let them enjoy it while we enjoy the cycle lane gradually taking on its permanent form.

Paul Campbell ● 1926d

I so love Paul is incapable of direct dialogue. He feels its his right to audit everyone and everything yet somehow evades the same scrutiny. Of course he always throws in denigration to make his point.Interesting to see him advocate for a lesser version of a cycle way than what we have at present. Also interesting to see him laud the Hammersmith bit which is at pavement level while we here in Chiswick are told we must cede pavement space to make way for cycling.

David Lesniak ● 1926d

newsjust in... https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/former-stirling-prize-finalist-draws-up-rival-design-for-hammersmith-bridgeCan we just agree a decision should be made, within a month max, and gets the (&**(* on with it, please?1

Tim Garfoot ● 1801d

Why has it taken this long to get to where we are?  If there was money coming in, rather than having to be spent, this would have been done and dusted very quickly like all the road closures etc. Has any work actually been done, or just monitoring.  Priorities seem to be a bit odd.

Maggie Dodge ● 1801d

... firm of architects gets someone to spend some time doing CAD drawings to generate some publicity for themselves....Not really the same thing as a viable plan.

Michael Robinson ● 1801d

Glad the bridge is at least open to cyclists and pedestrians. One of my favourite things to do is to cycle along the river in the afternoon and across Hammersmith Bridge, then straight up Castelnau to The Olympic Cinema in Barnes. G&T or cuppa tea (depending on the weather), then a movie before heading back along the same route in the twilight. It's really rather lovely!

Chris Blackwell ● 1801d

Living the Dutch lifestyle Chris. Lovely indeed.

Paul Campbell ● 1801d

I see Michael's true colors are shining bright as ever.No complaint from him with the previous two attempts by other architects. Yet he sputters out something with this scheme. Odd all the more because on prominent display is a spiffy new segregated cycle lane/arch. Seems far more viable an option than the double-decker version. I'm also not sure why having more options to consider is a bad thing. What the councils should've done (TfL is hopeless so no need to mention them) is put this out to competition. It could've been by invitation only or open it up wide to the masses (sidenote - this is how the Viet Nam Memorial came to be in DC where the competition was won by a then no-name grad student). Then there would have been a panel of esteemed judges to debate and critique and choose and presto chango you'd have some smashing new ideas to consider if not a scheme to pursue. How horrible that would've been! Could you imagine!!!Michael's knickers would be twisted all the more. If that's possible.

David Lesniak ● 1801d

Great to see you back David!This forum lacks a certain 'je ne sais quoi' without your regular angry and rancorous ranting.

Michael Robinson ● 1801d

Ha ha, we have our share without David, Ed practically combusted the other day. I do however,agree,  it’s good to have him back 👍

Maggie Dodge ● 1800d

I see in my absence Michael has maintained his ad hominem tactics. As long as we're getting all French-y and pretentious, let's just chuck in a little plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose" whilst we're at it. It's totally like a linguistic mash up. Obvs.

David Lesniak ● 1800d

This thread has become rather unpleasant.

Stewart Jones ● 1799d

I thought my post was rather pleasant!

Chris Blackwell ● 1799d

It is extremely unpleasant that the bridge has been closed to traffic for so long.

Steve Taylor ● 1798d