This is an update on Hammersmith Bridge and my continuing campaign to reopen the Bridge as soon as possible.  

I understand that Hammersmith and Fulham Council has formally confirmed plans to turn Hammersmith Bridge into a temporary double-decker structure while it is being restored. This is the result of a full feasibility study which confirmed that the designs by Foster + Partners (Norman Foster’s architectural practice)/ COWI plan. The double-decker structure would have motor vehicles on the top deck, with pedestrians and cyclists on the bottom deck. 

See the planned structure below: 

Experts believe the double-decker structure could shave £40million off the cost of fixing the bridge and reopen it to motorists sooner than planned. If Fosters/ COWI is chosen, it is expected to take around a year from the works programme starting before it can reopen to traffic. 

Cllr Cowan also said the current stabilisation works (the preliminary works to stop the bridge from collapsing) could be completed by Christmas. On 10th October Hammersmith and Fulham Cabinet signed off on the latest £5m spend which includes processing our preferred option the Foster + Partners/ COWI plan to planning stage.  It also set out plans to appoint a private sector contractor to design, renovate, finance and maintain the bridge.  Procurement is expected to start in April 2023 with the contract awarded with a fair wind in 2024, which is the earliest a procurement of this magnitude can take. 

The procurement plan for the full restoration of the bridge is expected to cost £130 million in total.  

I have been told that Hammersmith and Fulham Council are still waiting for the Memorandum of Understanding to be agreed with Transport for London and the Department of Transport, which guarantees each party will contribute a one-third share to the restoration of the bridge. In order to expedite the programme at the fastest possible pace, Hammersmith and Fulham Council continue to fund upfront in anticipation of Transport for London and the Department for Transport subsequently signing off on their shares. 

The estimated cost for restoring the Bridge is £163 million and the Council’s annual budget for 2022/23 is £57.2 million.  The Government is still refusing to accept that this historic bridge has unusually high costs which cannot be afforded by the Council and so needs Government-level support.  

I have raised this in two Parliamentary debates specifically on the funding of Hammersmith Bridge and several times in questions to Ministers. The Government has refused to move on this which has meant two things: 

1. The works have been slow. Hammersmith and Fulham Council have front-loaded the repair works to speed things up, and the Government have provided some of the costs. Thankfully, instead of waiting, the Council is going ahead with the further repairs and asking for retrospective funding.
   
2. To make up for the lack of Government funding, Hammersmith and Fulham have had to submit a business plan meeting the funding gap with a toll. It is not decided how much this will be. I have objected to this as the impact of the extra traffic will still be disproportionately in Putney.  

Hammersmith and Fulham Council meet fortnightly with the Department for Transport on the business plan and all sections of the full business plan should be with Department of Transport by the end of December. I have written to the Secretary of State to ask for full funding of the Bridge so that there isn’t a toll on one bridge. 

To be clear, this toll is having to be implemented because the Government has still not agreed to their share of the bridge have not given the Council substantial funding for the restoration of the bridge.  

Finally, I know that some people would prefer the Bridge to remain only a pedestrian and cyclist Bridge, and some to extend this only to public transport. As a cyclist myself, my response is that it is not strategic to change just one bridge in this way. It would mean that Putney still gets the air pollution, congestion and roads which are more of a danger to cyclists and put people off taking up cycling in Putney.   

I hope this information is helpful to you.

Fleur Anderson