Hammersmith Bridge is open again

This is becoming unbearably frantic. The article linked to above has been updated with a statement from the DfT:

• Update: This story, first published on April 30, was updated on May 5 with the following delayed response from the Department for Transport:
  
  

A DfT spokesman said it was “misleading” to suggest that it had asked Hammersmith and Fulham council to pay half the bill for a new bridge. In fact, the council had proposed various options, with the council’s share of the bill varying between zero and 100 per cent, he said.

He said it was only the council and not the DfT which retained authority to reopen the bridge.

He said the council’s plan for a £100m “double decker” bridge did not have an accompanying business plan, unlike the previous £141m six-year proposal. He said that the option of tolling the bridge related to how the council would seek to repay any loan it took out to help fund repairs.

Same link as above. ^

At least the thread title will be accurate again soon. :)

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-part-reopens-summer-cars-b935996.html

The article doesn't state it, but I assume this will also mean a re-opening to river traffic passing under it again? This may already have happened, of course. I haven't been following it.

This may already have happened, of course. I haven't been following it.

Don't think it is.

It's still going to open

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-reopen-summer-2021-cost-sharing-deal-government-b938194.html?amp

And the repair funding still seems to be completely stalled by ridiculous demands still being made of the council ... unbelievable.

There’s been a notice to mariners saying that boats can pass underneath, but with the risk that the bridge may need to close again and boats will find themselves stranded on the other side
https://www.pla.co.uk/assets/u3of2021-barnelmsreach-hammersmithbridge-closedtonavigationexclusionzonecontrolledtransits.pdf

Ah, thanks, KT. Interesting that under Amber conditions no passengers may be carried.

I think amber would allow barges carry essential cargo and also to move boats that need to be the other side of the bridge on a permanent basis. It doesn’t help rowing boats as it’s too uncertain

Opening for cycles/pedestrians this weekend. Woo.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-57848290

I know. So exciting. Also looks like boats will be able to pass freely underneath

Some extra info in the Standard article:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-reopen-pedestrians-cyclists-this-weekend-b945965.html

Yes indeed!!!!!

Real news Oliver.
3rd citation
https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/articles/news/2021/07/hammersmith-bridge-re-open-pedestrians-and-cyclists-weekend

Tangentially related to Hammersmith Bridge, Rotherhithe Tunnel and Vauxhall Bridge are also due to run up big bills:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rotherhithe-tunnel-vauxhall-bridge-closure-upgrades-tfl-b946644.html

(Standard does piece on Rotherhithe Tunnel and illustrates it with a picture of Rotherhithe Station ...)

https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/motts-6m-plan-approved-for-hammersmith-bridge

Estimated cost, £6m — against £30m for the previously front-running scheme. How can that happen?

Who knows. Let's hope the assessor is right and it works.

Isn't that just to get the job secured and then you just overrun costs as usual?

Looks like other bridges may open up to cycling and walking

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-bridges-thames-speed-limit-london-assembly-report-hammersmith-b964287.html?amp

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-ferry-plans-thames-london-ditched-b968440.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-hammersmith-bridge-repair-work-fulham-council-tfl-department-for-transport-b989704.html

The big picture--similar to other European countries, but no mention of motorway bridges, which are a major problem in Germany, for instance:

In the past year, more than 100 council-maintained bridges have been declared unfit for the heaviest vehicles, according to research by the RAC Foundation, with 17 bridges collapsing entirely and 37 partially in that time.

[...]

Devon has the greatest number of bridges in disrepair – 229 – while Dorset has had the most collapses, at 12.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/25/more-than-3200-uk-bridges-need-repair-local-authorities-say

Next, Grant Shapps blaming all of those local authorities to deflect blame away from 'austerity'.

As previously favoured by yours truly, the double-decker solution is being taken forward:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-repairs-council-fulham-barnes-richmond-pedestrians-cyclists-vehicles-b1032251.html

It should have been done immediately. As before, all the delays are beyond ridiculous. At least Shapps is gone, let's hope his successor (for how long?) is better.

Can't even cycle across it now, walking only despite it looking like nothing was happening with the road surface

Oooo, a toll! May there be many more and not just restricted to bridges.

I asked yesterday they said it would be open for cycling again … “soon”.