hammersmith bridge
Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to motor traffic since April 2019, with knock-on disruption to residents, businesses, disabled people, parents and tradespeople across a wide catchment of West London. Londoners are being forced to live with a strategic road link permanently broken by indecision.
← back to Agency & ChaptersThe Failure
In June 2021, Government set out a funding framework in principle: a three-way arrangement between the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, Transport for London and the Department for Transport, intended to be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding. That MoU was never signed. Since then the project has drifted into stalemate.
Nearly seven years after closure, almost £48m has already gone on stabilisation and pre-restoration activity — and still motor vehicles cannot cross the Bridge. It took just over two years to build the original structure, designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, in 1887. In the 21st century we have gone six years without a funded, accountable programme to restore motor access.
This is now a governance failure as much as an engineering challenge. No single decision-maker is being held accountable for restoring cross-river motor connectivity on a defined timetable. That must change now.
What We Want
- Full restoration work must begin immediately. Whilst repairs are undertaken to the existing structure, a functional road crossing must be constructed now by authorising and fast-tracking a downstream Temporary Road Bridge.
- Instruct the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce today to proceed with delivery of the downstream Temporary Road Bridge so motor vehicles can use the crossing within the next 3 months.
- Commit to a full restoration of Hammersmith Bridge, with an implementation timetable and funding mechanism that will deliver the project with a named accountable lead.
Nothing works in Britain anymore. It's time to change that. Step in and get this done. Connect our capital city once again.
Sign Our Letter
Sign our open letter to the Secretary of State calling on the Government to authorise a temporary road bridge immediately and commit to a fully funded restoration of Hammersmith Bridge.
Sign the letter → Videos & Media
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February 3, 2026
Hammersmith Bridge shut for seven years — ambulances taking longer, buses cancelled, taxis unable to cross.
Hammersmith Bridge has been SHUT for SEVEN years.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) February 3, 2026
The result?
🚑 Ambulances taking LONGER
🚌 Buses CANCELLED
🚕 Taxis UNABLE to cross
People are FORCED to take longer routes for no reason.
Britain should CHOOSE to build. pic.twitter.com/atGZ0KqaZs
February 3, 2026
Local residents speak about the impact of seven years of closure — "absolutely anti-growth."
"ABSOLUTELY ANTI-GROWTH"
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) February 3, 2026
Britain should be a country where taxis, buses and ambulances can cross a bridge.
Hammersmith Bridge has been shut for SEVEN YEARS.
The Government can choose to REOPEN it.
We spoke to local residents last week about the impact on them 👇 pic.twitter.com/S48jukJKSZ
February 2, 2026
Residents feel they have let young people down — "I'm here for the next generation."
"I'm here for the next generation"
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) February 2, 2026
Hammersmith Bridge was shut SEVEN years ago.
It's still not REOPENED.
We spoke to residents last week who feel they have let young people down 👇 pic.twitter.com/tL6p0iMCyi
February 1, 2026
Residential streets turned into rat runs — a local council candidate on Westminster's failure.
The closure of Hammersmith Bridge SEVEN years ago has made residential streets like "RAT RUNS".
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) February 1, 2026
We need politicians who choose building over secretive taskforces.
We spoke to a local council candidate last week about the impact of Westminster's failure👇 pic.twitter.com/5j9a5xFM9F
February 1, 2026
Roehampton has been isolated since the closure — residents say we don't need more taskforces, we need the bridge rebuilt.
Roehampton has been ISOLATED since Hammersmith Bridge was shut SEVEN years ago.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) February 1, 2026
We don't need more taskforces – we need the bridge rebuilt.
We spoke to residents about the impact of the closure last week 👇 pic.twitter.com/inqFU5Jp5U
January 31, 2026
The local MP for Putney shows support for building a temporary bridge whilst Hammersmith Bridge is rebuilt.
At her rally last weekend, the local MP for Putney showed her SUPPORT for building a temporary bridge whilst Hammersmith Bridge is rebuilt.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 31, 2026
We don't need another taskforce. We need ACTION.
WATCH @pursuitofprog's interview with @PutneyFleur last weekend 📽️ pic.twitter.com/oyiQDqrqAB
January 31, 2026
George Cave of LFG Putney on why politicians need to stop talking and start rebuilding.
Hammersmith Bridge was once a VITAL crossing of the Thames.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 31, 2026
But since it was closed, it has been FORGOTTEN.
If our politicians want to rebuild our country, they could start by REBUILDING the bridge.
George Cave of LFG Putney explains 👇 https://t.co/WkopCFoqqx pic.twitter.com/bJ0dlENJgu
January 30, 2026
The MP for Richmond Park on the secretive taskforce that has met just twice in three years.
'Behind closed doors'
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 30, 2026
MP for Richmond Park tells us about the secretive 'taskforce', which is supposed to be rebuilding Hammersmith Bridge.
So far, they have met twice in THREE years.
Sign our open letter demanding that the Government steps in and RESTORES THE BRIDGE https://t.co/WkopCFoqqx pic.twitter.com/KtCIkSk3ha
January 29, 2026
For seven years the bridge has been targeted by criminals — children told to go in groups, women scared to cross at night.
For SEVEN years, Hammersmith Bridge has been TARGETED by professional criminals.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 29, 2026
Children have been told to go in groups.
Women are scared to cross at night@saragezdari on why the bridge must be REOPENED. pic.twitter.com/zLBO1cnUVj
January 28, 2026
The Victorians built it for £11m in today's money — it does not need to cost a quarter of a billion.
Hammersmith Bridge was built by the Victorians for £11m in today's money.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 28, 2026
It does not need to cost a QUARTER OF A BILLION, like the Government insist.
We don't need ANOTHER consultation.
We need the bridge REOPENED.
Chapter Lead of LFG Putney, Felix Pivcevic, explains 👇 https://t.co/WkopCFoqqx pic.twitter.com/qU4tNgWvG1
January 28, 2026
Seven years shut, a taskforce that didn't meet for three years — no more delays.
7 years ago, Hammersmith Bridge was SHUT for repairs.
— Looking for Growth (@lfg_uk) January 28, 2026
Today, it STILL hasn't reopened to motorists.
Instead, the Government set up a "taskforce" that didn't meet for THREE years.
No more delays. The Government must RESTORE the bridge👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/YH2Db3ybMr