Hammersmith Bridge: The Saga
Hammersmith Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Thames connecting Hammersmith on the north bank to Barnes on the south. It is the only road crossing between Putney Bridge and Chiswick Bridge, making it a critical link for the Barnes peninsula. Since April 2019 the bridge has been closed to motor vehicles, and as of early 2026 there is no confirmed date for its reopening to traffic. The closure has reshaped daily life in Barnes, altering bus routes, lengthening journeys and fuelling one of south-west London’s most protracted infrastructure disputes.
History
The first Hammersmith Bridge, designed by William Tierney Clark, opened on 6 October 1827. It was the first suspension bridge over the Thames and cost approximately 80,000 pounds to build. Though an engineering landmark, it was soon found too narrow for increasing traffic.
The current bridge was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and opened by the Prince of Wales on 11 June 1887. Built by Dixon, Appleby and Thorne over about three years (1884–1887), it reuses the original pier foundations and is constructed largely of wrought iron. The bridge is approximately 210 metres long and 13 metres wide. It was listed as Grade II* by Historic England, recognising both its engineering significance and its ornamental cast-iron decoration.
Bomb attacks
Hammersmith Bridge has been targeted by republican paramilitaries on several occasions. On 29 March 1939, during the IRA’s S-Plan bombing campaign, two bombs were placed on the bridge. A passer-by, Maurice Childs, spotted the first device and threw it into the river before it detonated; the second exploded, damaging the structure and breaking windows in nearby houses. Childs received an MBE for his actions.
On 24 April 1996, the Provisional IRA planted two large Semtex devices beneath the southern span. The detonators fired but the main charges failed to ignite. Had they exploded, it would have been one of the largest Semtex blasts ever seen in Britain.
On 1 June 2000, a Real IRA bomb detonated beneath the Barnes span at 4:30 am. No one was injured, but the bridge was closed for three weeks for repairs.
The Closure
On 10 April 2019, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) closed the bridge to all motor traffic after engineers discovered critical fractures in the cast-iron pedestals supporting the suspension chains. In August 2020, during a heatwave, the structural condition worsened and the bridge was closed entirely, including to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic beneath it.
Following emergency stabilisation work and the installation of a temperature-control system for the suspension chains, partially funded by a 4-million-pound grant from the Department for Transport (DfT), the bridge reopened to pedestrians and cyclists on 17 July 2021. In early 2022, contractor FM Conway began Phase 1 of the restoration programme, including stabilisation and deck resurfacing.
In spring 2025, the resurfaced carriageway reopened to pedestrians and cyclists with three dedicated lanes: northbound cycling, southbound cycling and a two-way pedestrian path. Motor vehicles remain prohibited.
Impact on Barnes
Before the closure, approximately 22,000 to 25,000 vehicles crossed Hammersmith Bridge every day. The loss of this crossing has had far-reaching consequences for Barnes residents:
Transport. Six bus routes were diverted or curtailed overnight. Route 33 was truncated at Castelnau. Route 72 ceased serving Barnes during the day. A replacement route 533 was introduced, running to Hammersmith via Chiswick Bridge and Mortlake. Journeys that once took minutes across the bridge now require lengthy detours via Putney or Chiswick, adding time and cost.
Emergency services. The London Fire Brigade redirected 999 calls from Barnes to Richmond fire station rather than Hammersmith. While official data suggest that response times have not increased significantly, residents have expressed concern about longer routes for ambulances and fire engines reaching the peninsula.
Daily life. Commutes to schools, workplaces and hospitals on the north side of the river became longer and less predictable. Local businesses along The Terrace and the High Street reported reduced footfall from north-of-the-river visitors. The Boat Race course, which passes beneath the bridge, was also affected during the periods of full closure when river traffic was halted.
Alternative proposals. A temporary vehicular bridge running parallel to the existing structure was proposed by marine engineering firm Beckett Rankine but rejected by the council. Transport for London commissioned a temporary ferry service operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, with embarkation points near the bridge on each side. However, the ferry proposal attracted hundreds of objections from residents on both banks, particularly regarding the use of Harrods Wharf as a south-bank terminal.
Current Status
As of early 2026, Hammersmith Bridge remains closed to motor vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists may cross using the resurfaced carriageway. The Government’s Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce, paused since November 2021, was reconvened on 30 January 2025.
Costs so far. LBHF reports spending approximately 54 million pounds since the closure began, comprising roughly 37 million on stabilisation and 17 million on pre-restoration works. The council claims it is owed 20.7 million pounds from the DfT and TfL under a 2021 cost-sharing agreement in which each party was expected to fund one-third of the total bill. The DfT has disputed this, arguing that the agreement covers only stabilisation and strengthening, not pre-restoration expenditure.
Projected cost and timeline. The full restoration required to reopen the bridge to motor vehicles is estimated at up to 300 million pounds. LBHF has proposed a drivers’ toll to fund its share, though this remains unapproved. Neither TfL’s business plan nor the DfT’s spending commitments (as of 2025) include dedicated Hammersmith Bridge funding. Recent statements from local MPs suggest the bridge may not reopen to vehicles until 2035.
The impasse involves multiple parties: LBHF, which owns and maintains the bridge; TfL, which is responsible for London’s strategic road network; the DfT, which oversees national infrastructure funding; and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, whose residents on the Barnes side bear the brunt of the closure but have no direct say in the bridge’s management.
For broader context on Barnes transport links, including rail and bus alternatives, see Getting to and around Barnes. The nearby Barnes Railway Bridge continues to carry rail services across the Thames.
Sources
- Hammersmith Bridge – Wikipedia
- Hammersmith Bridge – London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
- Hammersmith Bridge closure 2019–26 – hammersmithbridge.org.uk
- Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce updates – GOV.UK
- The Impact of the Closure of Hammersmith Bridge – Barnes Community Association
- Hammersmith Council demands 20.7m for bridge repairs amid funding dispute – Richmond Nub News
- Hammersmith Bridge restoration expected to extend until 2035 – London Daily