Hammersmith Bridge will continue banning cars amid £300million repair cost - 'Disappointing'

A popular bridge in London will not be able to carry vehicles again due to a lack of funds available to fully restore the iconic landmark.

Hammersmith Bridge may never be able to carry motor vehicle traffic after a council report stated that it would cost around £300million to repair.

The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham report outlined that £54million had already been spent on the bridge since its full closure in April 2019.

Works include stabilisation works, the safe operation of the bridge and essential programme works preparing to complete a full restoration of the bridge.

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The Grade II listed heritage structure "needs to be replaced or strengthened or restored", which is estimated to cost around £300million if vehicles were allowed back on the bridge.

In 2021, a three-way equal split was imposed on the council by the Department for Transport in the Transport for London financial settlement, that each party should contribute one-third of the cost.

The council argues that it is still owed money primarily from TfL, but also the DfT, towards the £54million that has already been spent on the restoration project.

Hammersmith Bridge, which is 139-years-old, remains designated as a substandard structure that requires "further major repairs" to remain safe for pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic.

The report warned that without significant funding to complete the restoration, the bridge is "likely to have to fully close again on safety grounds in the short to medium term".

Hammersmith and Fulham Council face annual costs of around £1.5million to maintain its statutory and safety obligations.

The bridge was originally closed to motor traffic in 2019, and to all traffic in 2020 because of cracks in the infrastructure, TfL stated.

It was reopened by the council in July 2021, at which point pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic could benefit from Hammersmith Bridge.

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The latest round of stabilisation works said that the council was making positive progress to reduce the risk of further structural problems.

It also developed a long-term plan to strengthen the bridge with a goal of reopening it to motor vehicles, including buses, although this has now been addressed.

Labour MP Fleur Anderson wrote on social media that it was "deeply disappointing" that the council was pursuing a £128million submission for the DfT's Structures Fund, rather than the £300million repair bill.

The MP for Putney added: "I have fought hard for the reopening and will carry on. H&F Council has already invested £54million in repairs to ensure the safety of the bridge, and it is unreasonable to expect them to bear additional financial burdens."

She warned that bus routes through Putney are severely affected because of frequent gridlock, while commuters deal with long delays and early service terminations.

A TfL spokesperson said: "The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham are the owners and highway authority for Hammersmith Bridge.

"We continue to work with the borough, the Department for Transport and others to agree the right solution, as well as to agree how any future works to the bridge might be funded."

A spokesperson for the DfT added: "We have provided £17million to keep the bridge open for walking and cycling, and will continue to work closely with the council and Transport for London as we consider future funding through our new Structures Fund."

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