In the last week there have been well-publicised consultation meetings either side of the river, covering the repair and refurbishment of the bridge together with proposed Foster/COWI temporary bridge. Below are photos of the models of the proposals, but there’s one further public exhibition in Barnes this Saturday – details in the diary

We’re delighted to see that the designers have adopted our 2020 proposal to widen the pathways alongside the bridge to at least 2.3m, to better facilitate walking and cycling which are currently rather less than ideal. One of the photos below shows before & after views, and you can see that the visual impact is minimal [click on the images for larger versions]. We understand that Historic England are satisfied that this won’t harm the setting of the Grade 2* bridge. 

Bridge with double decker temporary – Barnes side

Bridge – widening the walkways old vs new

Bridge – double decker cutaway

Bridge – double decker cutaway

Completed bridge model – Hammersmith side

There’s a further piece of thinking to complete the necessary crossing of both 2-way cycling and pedestrians. Crossings naturally exist under the bridge at each side as we recall from the heights of COVID, but there remains a risk of paths crossing awkwardly. Subject to agreements, there may be an opportunity for the temporary walkway pictured to be part-repurposed into better crossover(s) after completion, with perhaps a smaller scale nod to the recent Dukes Meadows Footbridge.

We’ve had 1:1 discussions with the Foster / COWI team to answer our questions and listen to our suggestions. It’s important to realise that this proposal is a separate undertaking to the ‘stabilisation‘ works already underway, and which are a necessary precursor to this project. While we have stated reservations about the wisdom of pouring concrete into the troublesome cast iron pedestals to ‘stabilise’ them, followed by adding separate steel frames to support the bridge chains while they are lifted, that’s now done and there’s no going back.

This proposal involves:

• Dismantling much of the existing structure, which is life-expired in several respects
• Restoring the structural parts offsite, which will lead to a higher quality and lower cost result
• Replacing the roadway by a stronger and lighter steel structure, again as we suggested. which will allow heavier battery electric or hydrogen powered buses, and perhaps a slightly raised weight limit
• Repair of other life-expired structural components
• Repainting in the Bazalgette green, about which we’re previously expressed reservations

Foster/COWI have made a descriptive walk-through video, which also takes you through the proposed refurbishment processes in a lot more detail:

Bridge Video

The bridge consultation boards are shown below – click on the image for full detail. 

Bridge Public Consultation Boards

The remaining issues of finance and total elapsed time are unfortunately not entirely resolved. The stated time to execute the project is a little over 3 years, but that’s contingent on finance – and procurement.  Planning is expected to be applied for in April, which will also entail listed building consent from the Secretary of State for DLUHC. 

It’s of course necessary to have all the finance in place so that the temporary bridge doesn’t become permanent, and everyone is aware of that risk. We understand that the three-way agreed split between LBHF, Mayor and national government remains, with at least a real prospect of a toll to pay for LBHF’s portion, details TBD. That may help placate those still mischievously suggesting it’s somehow a car-led project.

Hammersmith Bridge, night. December 2009 – Mariusz Czajkowski

Last but not least, we’ve briefly discussed lighting, remembering of course that we awarded the bridge ‘blades of light’ in the year 2000. Foster/COWI have proposed an improved lighting solution which you can glimpse at the end of the video, but with the illuminated river project well established, we’d like to discuss that further, with a view to integrating any relevant ideas and learning.