Forum Topic

Hammersmith Bridge

According to the front page article it’s now wrapped in foil etc to protect it from the heat. What next ice packs and sun tan cream. What a waste of time and money, it should be pulled down and a new bridge built for this important river crossing.

Michael David Rowe ● 1530d19 Comments

It is being wrapped up because the heatwave last year caused some small cracks in the supporting cables/beams and protecting it this way is seen as the way to go.

Keith Iddon ● 1530d

This sounds worse than the High Street 😉

Janice Evans ● 1530d

MDR, I entirely concur. I said it last time and say it again, the bridge should be demolished and a new one capable of meeting future traffic needs installed.What a pathetic situation. The existing bridge has to be cooled down to protect it from falling down, DOH!

John Davies ● 1529d

Replacement should have been the decision many years ago. So much time and money wasted.

Maggie Dodge ● 1529d

"it should be pulled down and a new bridge built"It may not be that simple - it is Grade II* listed, and so subject to regulations which protect its historical and architectural significance.

Gail Busza ● 1529d

If they could move London Bridge to Arizona, they could move this one elsewhere if it needs preserving.  How about a modern fit-for-purpose bridge could be built along side and this preserved for pedestrians and cyclists.    West London desperately needs this bridge to be back in action

Jane Rudolph ● 1529d

Half the trouble with this country is that we treat it like a museum. Time we moved with the times a bit more

Jeffrey Cope ● 1529d

Half the trouble with this country is that we treat it like a museum. Time we moved with the times a bit more

Jeffrey Cope ● 1529d

There’s always a solution if you want one. Is anyone, with any day,  even attempting to solve this problem. It’s probably about money and anti car use combined. They find money when they want it. £1 million to  change street names, coukd be better used to start the ball rolling

Maggie Dodge ● 1529d

"How about a modern fit-for-purpose bridge could be built along side and this preserved for pedestrians and cyclists."Where are you proposing that this new bridge will land on either side of the river, where will you site the access roads and what will be removed to make way for it?

Paul Campbell ● 1529d

Paul I’d suggest asking a bridge builder ?

Maggie Dodge ● 1529d

Sit down. Wait for it. Take a breath. Despite the heat I think Hell just froze.Paul is right.The best location for a crossing is where the bridge sits now. Hence, remove and replace.To the museum point, why not send it to the bridge museum?The current aircon-ing exercise makes me wonder if this will need to be done in perpetuity as a sort of maintenance. So add that to the bill.

David Lesniak ● 1528d

Surely one of the main problems is the number of organizations with large amounts of money at their disposal (government, mayor, TfL, LBH&F, etc) standing around saying, 'Nothing to do with us gov - it's [fill in space]'s responsibility.' Meanwhile, local residents have problems getting around the area and West London traffic is seriously affected.

Colin Jordan ● 1528d

If you go to the search facility of https://www.manser.co.uk and type in Hammersmith Bridge you will see a number of entries by fellow architects to a competition for the bridge replacement. There are some very clever ideas there.I particularly liked the one incorporating a river clipper dock.The winner will surprise you.Of course they are all pie in the sky as the dead hand of bureaucracy sleeps on and on.

Adrian Irving ● 1528d

Paul may well be right. His attitude is I’m sure, that cyclists can now use it so what’s the problem. In fact he’d probably rather they don’t find a solution for the pesky majority of residents. Can’t be fixed or not financially viable, make a decision  and get on with it please. I repeat , so much wasted time and money!

Maggie Dodge ● 1528d

Actually cyclists can't use it at the moment. They have to (supposed to) dismount and walk across on the sidewalks using a one way system.The main carriage way is closed.

Adrian Irving ● 1528d

Is that recent Adrian?

Maggie Dodge ● 1528d

Not sure Maggie but for some time now.

Adrian Irving ● 1528d

If we have a cold winter I suppose it will have to be wrapped up to keep in warm incase contraction of the steel causes cracks. As others have said build a new one.

Nicholas Beard ● 1527d