Attendees included the Project Director Dana Skelley plus representatives from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London ( TfL ), and the Port of … News story Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce meeting, 13 November 2020 Joint statement on progress made by the taskforce at its meeting on 13 November 2020. Residents and businesses in west London were in uproar today after they were told that Hammersmith Bridge will remain shut to traffic until 2027. VideoWhat's in store for US President-elect Biden in 2021? A new proposal to get Hammersmith Bridge reopened “within a year” has been unveiled by Hammersmith and Fulham Council. In October a special taskforce was set up by the Department for Transport (DfT) to work with bodies like Hammersmith and Fulham Council, which owns the bridge, and Transport for London (TfL) in order to carry out repairs and organise a temporary crossing. Now it seems new up-to-date expert advice could perhaps see a quicker opening to pedestrians and cyclists and boats. He said: "Our response has been to ask if they would take on the legal responsibility for such a decision, but they have consistently refused to do so. We found decades of unchecked corrosion riddled throughout the suspension … .css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link{color:inherit;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:hover,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link:focus,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited:focus{color:#B80000;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:link::after,.css-1hlxxic-PromoLink:visited::after{content:'';position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:2;}Hammersmith Bridge could reopen to traffic 'within a year', Hammersmith Bridge 'will not reopen to traffic until 2027', London's bridges 'are the capital's embarrassment', Red tape will delay Hammersmith Bridge replacement ferry, Hammersmith Bridge closed after cracks worsen in heatwave, Hammersmith Bridge repairs 'could cost £120m', Hammersmith Bridge closed because cracks in pedestals, Hammersmith Bridge 'closed indefinitely' after faults found, Three arrested after ravers trash Grade II listed church at NYE party, Christmas | Opinion New year message: My heart goes out to those affected by this tragic year Rabbi Herschel Gluck, Pictures show quiet streets in London amid New Year's Eve celebrations, Vaccine is 'light at the end of the tunnel' for care home residents, 'Up to £1 million worth' of cannabis seized in Charlton warehouse bust, Information about BBC links to other news sites, US Congress overrides Trump defence bill veto. Furious row over Hammersmith Bridge as government says it CAN reopen to pedestrians and cyclists in weeks - just months after it was closed for seven years for £141m repairs - … The Reader: How will by-election loss focus Brexiteer minds? A ferry is still being looked at for spring and on Wednesday transport bosses said no long-term funding had yet been secured from the government. Mr Kainth explained that TfL had reviewed the idea and discarded it because it would cost £30 to £50 million rather than £7 million, and take at least one year to implement. 'I'm Australian - why do I need to prove my loyalty? "The bridge was closed because world-leading specialist engineers strongly advised the badly corroded suspension structure faced catastrophic failure. BBC Future: Are there health benefits to going vegan? The idea of a temporary road bridge running adjacent to Hammersmith Bridge was proposed by an engineering consultancy who said it would cost just £7 million and take three months to implement. The council said this would allow pedestrians and cyclists to use a new lower deck, and cars and buses to drive on the upper deck. News story Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce meeting, 10 December 2020 Joint statement on progress made by the taskforce at its meeting on 10 December 2020. Prior to that, no such review had ever taken place. Motorists have not been able to use 133-year-old Hammersmith Bridge .css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link{color:#3F3F42;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{color:#696969;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{font-weight:bolder;border-bottom:1px solid #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{border-bottom-color:currentcolor;border-bottom-width:2px;color:#B80000;}@supports (text-underline-offset:0.25em){.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited{border-bottom:none;-webkit-text-decoration:underline #BABABA;text-decoration:underline #BABABA;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:1px;text-decoration-thickness:1px;-webkit-text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;text-underline-offset:0.25em;}.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:hover,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:link:focus,.css-yidnqd-InlineLink:visited:focus{-webkit-text-decoration-color:currentcolor;text-decoration-color:currentcolor;-webkit-text-decoration-thickness:2px;text-decoration-thickness:2px;color:#B80000;}}since April 2019 after inspectors found "critical faults" in the cast iron casing. Hammersmith & Fulham Council leader Stephen Cowan has played down government assertions that Hammersmith Bridge could soon reopen to pedestrians and cyclists. By Ross Lydall. Grant Shapps orders LBHF to pay £64m for Hammersmith Bridge repairs In November 2020 Hammersmith and Fulham unveiled a new plan to build a temporary deck above the existing deck, which would be used by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles while the main deck in being repaired. Ten African music stars to look out for in 2021. Crossing could reopen with traffic on upper level and pedestrians below. Transport minister Baroness Vere called on Hammersmith and Fulham Council to look again as to whether the bridge can open with restrictions. Engineers have come up with a radical plan to build a temporary double-decker crossing within the existing structure of Hammersmith Bridge in London, which has been closed fully on … Published 11 December 2020 Caught in the middle are the local residents who have endured a horrendous time trying to do once normal activities. Schoolchildren have faced long detours and bike rides up the Thames path in the dark to get to school and the area has suffered from congestion. It closed to vehicles in April 2019 and to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic in August this year. Hammersmith Bridge has been targeted twice by the IRA as the paramilitary group tried to blow it up. This is an exciting proposal that would solve a number of problems. The Department for Transport has yet to announce whether it will fund the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge, estimated to cost more than £140 million. Hammersmith and Fulham Council leader Stephen Cowan, a member of the Task Force, has said one potentially cheaper option being discussed is building a brand new cycling and pedestrian bridge. The report says the understanding of the bridge's condition, and in particular the cracks that closed it, has improved considerably since March. You can no longer walk or cycle across the bridge. VideoThe train carriage for stray pets, 'We welcomed the Brexit deal like a Christmas present', India's love affair with classic British motorbikes. Hammersmith and Fulham Council shut the bridge … In a strongly-worded statement, Cowan criticised the Department for Transport's (DfT's) Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce for sharing inspection reports with the press before the council or the council’s bridge maintenance … The 133-year-old bridge was closed entirely in August after cracks in the structure worsened during a heatwave. That review revealed how many important mechanisms had seized up long ago. Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to motorists since April 2019 Providing a replacement ferry service at Hammersmith Bridge is a condition … The closure of Hammersmith bridge was over-cautious and it could be reopened within weeks to pedestrians and cyclists, a bombshell Government analysis has revealed. 's Last Christmas goes to number one for the first time, Omar Elabdellaoui: Norway star hurt by firework on New Year's Eve, Adobe Flash Player is finally laid to rest, Afghanistan violence: Bismillah Aimaq is fifth journalist to die, The KLF's songs are finally available to stream, Brexit: New era for UK as it completes separation from European Union, Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council. Both Councils and Sarah Olney are very keen to explore this option. Johnson was warned of the possibility of collapse in a joint letter from leaders of Richmond and Hammersmith & Fulham councils seen by NCE.. Thursday's report by engineering consultants AECOM and Cambridge University's Prof Norman Fleck said Hammersmith and Fulham's initial risk assessments were "too conservative". © 2021 BBC. Hammersmith Bridge News NewsNow brings you the latest news from the world’s most trusted sources on Hammersmith Bridge. We will never take risks with people’s safety. The closure of Hammersmith Bridge On 13 August 2020, the 133-year-old Hammersmith Bridge had to be closed to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic for safety reasons. Hammersmith Bridge won’t reopen until Motts engineers deem it safe 15th December 2020 From New Civil Engineer: Hammersmith & Fulham Council leader Stephen Cowan has played down government assertions that Hammersmith Bridge could soon reopen to pedestrians and cyclists. US Congress overrides Trump defence spending bill veto, Covid-19: New variant 'raises R number by up to 0.7', First Minneapolis police death since George Floyd captured on bodycam, Norway landslide: Body found as rescuers search Gjerdrum landslide, Wham! ', Why 2021 could be turning point for tackling climate change, playThe train carriage for stray pets. Hammersmith & Fulham Council has unveiled a radical new plan to build a temporary double-decker crossing within the existing structure of Hammersmith Bridge that has been closed on safety grounds since August 13th Working with Sir John Ritblat from Delancey, and world leading architects and engineers Foster + Partners, the council has said that under […] Prime minister Boris Johnson has been warned that without immediate funding the bridge faces “a potential catastrophic failure”. Hammersmith Bridge is owned by Hammersmith and Fulham Council. 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