Council rejects plan for roads beside Hammersmith Bridge, calling it a publicity stunt. Bridge repairs remain a costly issue.
Sybarite and Buro Happold created the design. They want to add two new arched bridges that would sit on either side. No one has agreed to use this plan.
Sybarite said they showed the design to council leaders, but the council isn’t so sure. They called it a publicity stunt and stated they weren’t involved.
The bridge closed to cars in 2019 after inspectors found small cracks. People can still walk or bike across it, although cyclists must get off their bikes.
The council spent about £48 million on repairs. Reopening the bridge fully could cost £250 million, making who will pay for this work a big question.
A deal said the council pays one third, Transport for London (TfL) pays a third, and the Department for Transport (DfT) pays the rest. The council may add a toll.
A taskforce has restarted meetings, hoping to speed up the project. The designers want to use mirrored steel, which they believe would make the new bridges blend in. The steel would make them almost invisible.
This keeps attention on the original bridge. Sybarite says the bridge is a London symbol, and its restoration could help the area.
The council thinks the proposal is a publicity stunt, suggesting the designers were seeking attention. The council isn’t taking it seriously.
Another group, Possible, a charity, had a different idea. They suggested keeping cars off and proposed driverless pods for disabled people, offering an alternative solution.