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  "path": "/2026/02/11/hammersmith-bridge-ever-fully-reopen-26813071/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-11T07:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
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    "closed to buses and motorists in 2019",
    "allowed to use it again in 2021",
    "might not happen until 2035",
    "How a single phone call led police to the heart of London's gang violence",
    "Moment £100,000 statue of boxer Teddy Baldock ripped down by masked thieves",
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  "textContent": "To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nThe iconic Hammersmith Bridge, located in west London, has faced a series of setbacks over the years.\n\nThe large, green Victorian suspension bridge was first opened in 1887,designed for horse-drawn carriages and people travelling on foot.\n\nAfter decades of serving Londoners without any issues, it was targeted by the IRA three times – once in 1939, once in 1996 by the Provisional IRA and once in 2000 by the Real IRA.\n\nTwo of the attacks damaged the bridge, but it later reopened after repairs.\n\nBut decades of corrosion and heavy traffic mean the bridge became too unsafe to remain open for cars, and it partially closed to buses and motorists in 2019.\n\nSince then, its future has been uncertain. Pedestrians and cyclists were allowed to use it again in 2021 after it passed safety checks.\n\nWhat Hammersmith Bridge looks like after new cycling walking lanes were installed (Picture: In Pictures/Getty Images)\n\nBut its future over whether it will reopen fully remains uncertain. Millions of pounds have already been poured into opening the bridge for riders and pedestrians. The price tag for full reopening could be as high as £250 million, and if it can ever accept cars again, this might not happen until 2035.\n\nThe issue has sparked a debate over what should happen with London’s Victorian bridges like Hammersmith.\n\n## ‘Extend the Tube across the river’\n\nHammersmith Bridge has been adapted for cycling and walking after the government contributed almost £3 million for the installation of the dedicated lanes in 2024 (Picture: In Pictures/Getty Images)\n\nCampaigners, residents and politicians from both sides of the river are at loggerheads as the future of the bridge has been uncertain for seven years.\n\nLocals behind the slogan ‘Hammersmith Bridge is open’ have pointed out that the bridge is not closed, it is just closed to cars.\n\n##  Latest London news\n\n  * How a single phone call led police to the heart of London's gang violence\n\n  * Moment £100,000 statue of boxer Teddy Baldock ripped down by masked thieves\n\n  * Man, 23, plunges five floors to death 'looking out for pizza delivery'\n\n\n\n_**To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro's** London news hub._\n\nMeanwhile, access to Charing Cross Hospital has reportedly been complicated by the axing of the bus routes, with worsened gridlock allegedly affecting Chiswick, Putney and Wandsworth.\n\nProblems with public transport should be solved as a priority, Charles Campion, an architect from Barnes and a member of the Hammersmith Bridge is Open group, said.\n\nHe told **Metro** : ‘The bridge is open and more and more people are using it. But we need a public transport option. We need something now for the community and businesses.’\n\nOne of the options campaigners have proposed includes autonomous pods which would shuttle those who can’t or don’t want to pedal or walk and connect them to Hammersmith station.\n\nRob Noon said: ‘Pedestrians and cyclists can use it so leave it at that.’\n\n**Metro** reader Jonathan Hib Bird proposed extending the Hammersmith & City line ‘south across the river instead.’ He also said an option could include building a new bridge next to the Victorian structure.\n\nA cyclist cycles between cones and barriers which block the southern end of Hammersmith Bridge (Picture: Richard Baker/Getty)\n\nRoss Witney agreed that the £250 million price tag is worth it, adding that ‘it is a scandal that it’s taken this long and still, nothing has happened.’\n\nRebecca Mason suggested putting tolls on ‘all bridges west of Congestion charge zone. The money can be used to maintain all the bridges.’\n\n**Metro** reader Alexnader Sutton said that while Victorian constructions like Albert Bridge are ‘pretty,’ but ‘without purpose if they no longer function for the purpose they were designed.’\n\n##  Which buses used to cross Hammersmith Bridge?\n\nSeveral buses have been rerouted and changed after vehicles were banned.\n\nRoutes crossing the river included 33, 72, 209, 419, 485 and 609.\n\nBefore the bridge closure, route 72 connected Roehampton south of the river and East Acton (Brunel Road) in west London.\n\nSince 2019, route 72 has been running between Hammersmith station and East Acton only.\n\nRoute 485 currently runs between Castelnau, Lonsdale Road and Wandsworth, but it used to run to Hammersmith Bus Station before the bridge shut for traffic.\n\nLiam Downer-Sanderson, a Conservative councillor at Hammersmith & Fulham council, said the party would ‘build a temporary bridge to get buses, emergency vehicles and other traffic flowing as soon as possible,’ saying that this would be a ‘stake in the May elections.’\n\nFleur Anderson, the Labour MP for nearby Putney, has called for the bridge to reopen to motor traffic. Speaking at a protest for full reopening last week, she said the closure continues to impact Putney and Roehampton residents ‘every single day.’\n\nShe told The Times some residents are seeing their children less because of ‘the hours they spend in traffic.’\n\nThe bridge is still important for Londoners as it’s one of the few bridges that connect the two sides of the city (Picture: Richard Baker/Getty)\n\nCampion, who is also part of Barnes Town Team, argued that the fears that business would suffer terribly’ have not materialised in the area, citing credit card data.\n\nHe labelled arguments of traffic being pushed elsewhere a ‘misrepresentation,’ claiming that traffic is down ‘even on Putney Bridge.’\n\n‘People are looking for the perfect answer, which probably isn’t there. It is working quite well, but we need a public transport option,’ he said, adding that ‘there is a solution that can unite parties.’\n\nRefurbishment works, and the costs, are complicated due to the bridge’s Grade II-listed status.\n\nPOLL\n\nPoll\n\n### Should Hammersmith Bridge reopen for motor vehicles?\n\n  * YesCheck\n\n  * NoCheck\n\n\n\n\nWhile it is owned by Hammersmith & Fulham council, the government is looking into an option that the council and Transport for London would each pay a third of the repair costs, while taxpayers would pay for the rest.\n\nA spokesperson for the council told **Metro** : ‘Hammersmith Bridge, built in 1887, is one of the world’s oldest suspension bridges which is why it is also one of Britain’s most expensive to repair.\n\n‘Following the submission of our bid last year, we are currently waiting to hear whether the Grade II listed bridge has been allocated money in the new £1billion Structures Fund for transport infrastructure including bridges, tunnels and roads.’\n\n******Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.******\n\n**For more stories like this,****check our news page**.\n\nComment now Comments  Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source ",
  "title": "Could Hammersmith Bridge ever fully reopen?"
}