Next phase of Wandsworth Bridge repair programme underway

Critical safety repairs to Wandsworth Bridge are continuing with the project on course to complete on schedule and on budget.

The bridge is expected to reopen to all forms of traffic on October 1 – once its bearings have been replaced. 

These bearings are critical to the safe operation of the bridge by allowing it to flex and absorb movement during hot and icy spells of weather. Without this ability to expand and contract due to weather conditions the bridge structure would sustain damage rendering it unsafe for traffic.

The brand-new replacement bearings arrived on Friday setting the stage for the next phase of works. These are for the bridge to be hydraulically lifted in stages so that the new bearings can be installed deep within its sub-structure.

This phase successfully commenced at the northern end of the bridge on Monday and will be followed tomorrow night (Thursday, 24 August) by a similar lifting operation of the southern section between 11pm and 5am. This will mean cyclists and pedestrians being unable to cross the bridge during those hours. 

Jenny Yates, Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “I’m pleased to report that the initial phase of hydraulic lifting was completed successfully.

“There will be a repeat of this operation tomorrow (Thursday) when attention will turn to the raising of the southern stretch of the bridge which will give us access to those bearings, allowing us to remove the old ones and replace with the new.
 
“Once the new bearings have been fitted, the bridge deck will be waterproofed to prevent future internal corrosion, to be followed by full carriageway resurfacing.

“At this stage of the project I’m very happy to report that this crucial repair scheme is on course to complete on time and on budget.”