“Urgent action needed” on Hammersmith Bridge, say Wandsworth residents

Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to vehicles since 2019, leading to increased congestion and bus chaos on Wandsworth’s roads.

The meeting comes shortly after the damning results of an investigation by Wandsworth Council, looking into the ongoing impact of the bridge closure on Wandsworth residents.

The Council has collated its own data as well as working with the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) in obtaining their information. Snapshot data from the DfT shows that between 2020 and 2023, the overall number of motor vehicles on Putney Bridge was estimated to have increased by 16%, from 32,083 to 37,239.  The Council’s own automatic traffic count data shows a 25% increase in traffic during the morning peak hours between 2019-2023. Data from TFL has also confirmed that bus journey and waiting times have worsened.

As a result of the greater traffic flow, it is clear to see that journey times have lengthened, and the level of wear and tear on our roads has disproportionately increased, at a greater financial cost to Wandsworth taxpayers. This data will form a key piece of evidence as we continue our campaign for Hammersmith Bridge to reopen.

Demanding progress for our community 

The Council has been in regular contact with Transport for London, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and central Government, pushing for solutions that prioritise residents’ needs. We are calling for the bridge to reopen, to reduce the ongoing impact Hammersmith Bridge’s closure is having on local people. Residents are facing significantly more traffic and congestion due to the increase of vehicles rerouting through the borough, and degraded bus services in the western wards of Putney and Roehampton.

Simon Hogg said: “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.

“As a listening Council, we stand firmly with our residents. We’ve raised their concerns directly with key decision-makers and continue to call for urgent and decisive action to fund and deliver the repairs needed to reopen the bridge to vehicles.” 

What has Wandsworth Council done? 

• We are calling for increased transparency and urgency in the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce, a committee on which we’ve successfully campaigned to have a stakeholder seat, ensuring that our local voices are heard. The next meeting will be held on 30 January, chaired by Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport. 
• As part of our commitment to tackling congestion, we are doubling efforts to support transport alternatives, including improving cycling infrastructure and working with TfL to bring bus improvements, making it easier for residents to move around the borough. 
• We have part-funded the University of Roehampton shuttle bus to enable all residents in the southwest of the borough to more easily access the tube network, following the termination of the vital 72 bus service over Hammersmith Bridge to Hammersmith tube station. 
• Following our campaigning, TfL have added one bus to the fleet for the 85 and two buses have been added to the 170 route. We continue to campaign for the 170 to be a double decker and for TfL to improve the 14 and 414 routes. Although TfL have added more buses to some routes, there are limits to what this can achieve when the network is so congested. 

“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.” 

Share your views 

You can email the Secretary of State for Transport and Minister for Roads to support the re-opening of the bridge to vehicles and especially for buses.  
  
You will need to submit your response via the the DfT's survey page.