Putney Bridge Shuts For Summer

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Combined with other closures could lead to 'summer of misery' on local roads

Motorists are warned to expect severe traffic delays in the area with the closure of Putney Bridge on 14th July.

Residents on day one of the closure commented that the Lower Richmond Rd east bound and the High Street were much quieter than usuall but that traffic to Rocks Lane west along the Lower Richmond Rd was much heavier due to increased traffic in that direction meeting heavier traffic levels coming north along Rocks Lane from Roehampton to Hammersmith Bridge.

The work coincides with other key road closures in the West of London including the continutation of the partial closure of the Hammersmith Flyover on weekends, the closure of the Hogarth Flyover from 19th July and continued works on Chiswick Bridge. The combined effect of these projects has led some people to predict a 'summer of misery' on local roads.

For the duration of the Putney Bridge works buses are operating a shuttle service from both ends. This means that passengers have to cross the bridge on foot and get on another bus to continue their journeys.

Transport for London has published maps showing where passengers will be able to get on their buses, and confirmed that people will only pay one fare for the two legs of their journey.

Passengers who either use a travelcard or a concessionary card like a Freedom Pass can walk across the bridge and catch a bus as normal. Anyone using Oyster pay-as-you-go or a contactless payment card can obtain a ‘transfer voucher’ from the bus driver or a special ‘transfer card’ from dedicated members of staff. Passengers with these will not have to pay again when they embark on the second leg of their journeys.

 

Map of bus routes whilst bridge closed from 14th July

Transfer cards and vouchers can be used in conjunction with an Oyster PAYG or Contactless payment card which has been validated within 60 minutes on a previous bus journey on routes 14, 22, 39, 74, 85, 93, 220, 265, 270, 424, 430, N22 and N74. Passengers who obtain a transfer card can use it throughout the closure and will not need to obtain a voucher from the driver on each occasion.

Additional TfL staff are available on both sides of the bridge to help direct passengers, issue “transfer cards” and answer any questions about local bus services. Caroline Whitehead on teh forum commented:
"TFL are to be congratulated on getting new routes and Bus Stop signs up and for having staff posted to help confused travellers."

Cyclists can continue using the bridge, but they must dismount and wheel their bikes across. They can not ride across the bridge. Alternatively they can use the rail bridge on Deodar Road with the council installing a cycle rail to make it easier to take bikes up the steps. However on the forum it has been pointed out that there are:
"Still plenty of idiots cycling all the way across on the pavement though; guess we need some Police presence to discourage them (especially when everyone has to use the pavement when the road surface is dug up)."

July 14, 2014