But Mortlake councillor says this is not the answer for neighbouring residents in Barnes or Putney

Whilst Hammersmith & Fulham Council (H&F) and Transport for London (TfL) continue to debate the costs and responsibility for repairing Hammersmith Bridge the traffic continues to be redirected over Putney, Chiswick & Wandsworth Bridges adding to the frustrations of residents and the levels of pollution in these areas.

On the H&F website there is now a page titled Hammersmith Bridge being restored to its Victorian splendour in which H&F reiterates that 'residents’ needs on both sides of Hammersmith Bridge are the priority' and gives some facts that the council believes says explains 'what's happened with the 132-year-old suspension bridge and why these works are necessary and the most comprehensive ever undertaken'.

Within the H&F pages there is a reference to tolls being charged to cross the bridge in the future, H&F state: "We’re not ruling out the use of tolls on the bridge by drivers passing through, but residents of Hammersmith & Fulham wouldn't be asked to pay a penny to use the bridge". However Councillor Gemma Curran for Mortlake told the Barnes Bugle:" It could be that a toll might be one of the solutions to the bridge funding issue but I would hope any toll would be imposed fairly and not penalise Barnes residents who arguably use the bridge far more than those living in Hammersmith & Fulham.

She continued: “Tolls will also not solve the problem of additional traffic on Putney and Chiswick bridges as the diversion of traffic away from Hammersmith will be their inevitable consequence."



Micro-factures in the north west and south west pedestals under Hammersmith Bridge (H&F)

The bridge was closed suddenly in April due to micro-fractures in the cast iron structures of the north west and south west pedestals under the bridge which have compromised the bridge’s natural and necessary flexibility. A team of 18 world-class specialist engineers from both TfL and H&F Council are currently undertaking the most comprehensive engineering review and included in this team are engineers who have worked on oil rigs and therefore understand the complexities of large-scale metal structures.

How long will Putney residents may suffer the additional traffic? Three years is a possibility according to the H&F site: 'At this stage it is hard to predict how long repair work could take, but it might be as long as three years'.

June 3, 2019