Wandsworth residents, community leaders, and council officials have intensified their calls for urgent action to reopen Hammersmith Bridge, ahead of a key meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce on 30 January. The bridge, which has been closed to vehicles since 2019, has caused mounting frustration due to increased congestion, worsening public transport delays, and economic hardship for businesses in the borough.
The issue took centre stage at a public meeting in Putney, where Simon Hogg, Leader of Wandsworth Council, listened to residents’ concerns and pledged to push for a resolution. The council has been compiling data to assess the full impact of the bridge closure, which has forced thousands of motorists onto alternative routes through Wandsworth, exacerbating traffic congestion on Putney Bridge and surrounding roads.
Figures compiled by Wandsworth Council, in collaboration with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL), paint a bleak picture of the bridge’s prolonged closure. Between 2020 and 2023, the number of motor vehicles using Putney Bridge surged by 16%, from 32,083 to 37,239. During peak morning hours, Wandsworth’s own traffic count data recorded a 25% increase in congestion levels between 2019 and 2023. Bus journey times have also worsened, with longer waits and overcrowding reported across multiple routes.
Hogg criticised the ongoing inaction, stating, “The ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge has placed an unacceptable burden on the people of Wandsworth. Following the closure over five years ago, traffic has got increasingly worse on our local roads, resulting in regular gridlock and longer journey times for people commuting to work, school, and vital appointments. Businesses are struggling, emergency vehicles are delayed, buses are delayed, and our community is rightly frustrated at the inaction and lack of progress to reopen this key river crossing.”
The bridge’s closure has had a domino effect on the borough’s transport network, worsening conditions for commuters, businesses, and emergency services alike. Putney and Roehampton have borne the brunt of the disruption, with rerouted traffic placing additional strain on the area’s infrastructure. The knock-on effect has seen the frequency and reliability of bus services decline, with TfL confirming a notable deterioration in journey times.
Calls for Action
Wandsworth Council has pledged to maintain pressure on key stakeholders, including Transport for London, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and central government, to expedite repairs and reopen the bridge. The council is demanding increased transparency and urgency from the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce and has successfully secured a stakeholder seat to ensure Wandsworth’s concerns are heard.
As part of efforts to mitigate congestion, the council has been working to enhance alternative transport options. It has co-funded the University of Roehampton shuttle bus to provide residents in the southwest of the borough with better access to tube services, following the termination of the vital 72 bus service over Hammersmith Bridge. Additionally, following the council’s lobbying, TfL has increased bus capacity by adding one additional bus to the 85 route and two more buses to the 170 route. However, Hogg insists more must be done.
“There are limits to what additional buses can achieve when the network is already so congested,” he said. “We are fully committed to making sure that Wandsworth residents are not forgotten. We will continue to champion their concerns and press for swift action to reopen Hammersmith Bridge. It is time for Government, Transport for London, and all stakeholders to prioritise this issue and deliver for the people of South West London.”
Long Road to Resolution
Despite repeated calls for action, there is no clear timetable for when the bridge will reopen to vehicles. The repair costs, estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, have led to a protracted funding dispute between local and national authorities. While the bridge remains open to pedestrians and cyclists, Wandsworth residents argue that a full reopening is essential to alleviate the growing pressures on the borough’s transport system.
Residents affected by the bridge closure are encouraged to voice their concerns directly to decision-makers. The council has urged locals to write to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Minister for Roads to support the reopening of the bridge, particularly for buses and essential services.
With pressure mounting and public frustration reaching boiling point, the upcoming Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce meeting is expected to be a pivotal moment in the campaign to secure long-overdue progress on the vital river crossing.
