Hammersmith Bridge to Close Over Next Two Weekends
And partial closures continue on weekdays throughout February
Hammersmith Bridge will be fully closed over the next two weekends in February.
Hammersmith & Fulham Council says it is carrying out urgent repair works to the bridge, which means it will fully close the bridge in both directions for the weekends of 15-16, and 22-23.
The closures will be from 8am on Saturday through till 5am on Monday.
The work also means that the bridge continues to be partially closed on weekdays until February 28. The southbound lane over the bridge (A306) is closed between 7am and 3pm every Monday to Friday to allow essential repairs to the 126 year-old bridge’s wooden decking panels.
H & F Council says the work must be done to make sure that the road is safe for motorists and cyclists. After years of wear and tear, the current timber panels on the bridge need to be repaired or replaced, and then resurfaced. The worn wooden decking means that steel panels on the road, which provide an anti-skid surface, are failing to work properly.
There are also several pot holes in the road which have been patched up temporarily and this work will allow the defects to be properly and permanently repaired.
Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s cabinet member for transport and technical services, saus: "These works are simply unavoidable and must be done now, to make sure the road surface holds up for the next decade. Of course, if there was any way we could keep the road open then we would."
To minimise disruption and avoid clashing with Transport for London’s night-time closures of Hammersmith Flyover, the works have been planned for when southbound traffic flow is low and traffic heading north is at its peak.
However, access is being maintained in both directions over the bridge for emergency vehicles and pedestrians, and the 72, 209 and 609 buses are still running via the bridge during the week. Cyclists have to dismount and walk their bikes across the bridge.
There is access for local residents living near the bridge, on either side of the river (for example, those living in Rutland Grove and surrounding streets).
The diversions are via Fulham Palace Road and Putney Bridge for southbound traffic and, during the weekend closures, northbound traffic will be diverted to Chiswick Bridge. Advance warning and diversion signs are up on both sides of the river.
For more information on the works, contact Anvar Alizadeh or Michael Masella on 020 8753 3033 or 020 8753 3082. Alternatively the highways duty officer is available outside of office hours on 020 8748 8588.
February 14, 2014
