Back in 2019, two European capitals faced crises almost at the same time. In Paris, Notre Dame was engulfed in flames, its iconic spire collapsing as the world watched in horror. In London, inspectors found dangerous cracks in the pedestals of Hammersmith Bridge, forcing its immediate closure to vehicles.
Fast forward six years, and the contrast couldn’t be more striking.
Notre Dame has been painstakingly restored, rising once again in all its grandeur.
Meanwhile, Hammersmith Bridge still stands silent, closed to cars, buses, and ambulances—more a symbol of political gridlock than engineering failure.
A Landmark Frozen in Time
The bridge’s closure has dragged on for so long that it now outlasts the Second World War.
Despite five different Prime Ministers and endless meetings, nothing significant has changed.
What was once a vital artery carrying 20,000 vehicles and five bus routes a day has been reduced to a pedestrian and cycle crossing.
For residents in Barnes, the southern end feels like a sleepy village cut off from the rest of London.
To the north, Hammersmith bustles with shops, offices, and hospitals—but getting there by car can take an hour.
All the diverted traffic has turned nearby Putney High Street into Britain’s most congested road.
Families Struggling with Isolation
For people living near the bridge, this is more than an inconvenience—it’s life-changing.
Barnes resident Heidi Patton says every hospital trip for her disabled husband feels like “a major operation.”
Another, Louisa Barnett, recalls missing her sister’s final moments in 2023 because she couldn’t get across in time.
She has since decided to relocate her home and business to the other side of the river.
Writer Julia Watkins, part of the Hammersmith Bridge SOS campaign group, explains how many locals feel their lives have shrunk.
“People say their worlds feel smaller because they can’t move around like they used to,” she says.
A Divide in Public Opinion
Not everyone is mourning the closure. Some Barnes residents enjoy the quiet streets and cleaner air.
Dog walkers like Elaine Mannix and Olivia Reynolds argue the peace is worth keeping, even if it means permanent closure.
But others, like Nigel Edwards, who chairs the local action group, are determined to fight.
“We are a major G7 nation,” he says, “and I cannot think of any other country which would let a vital piece of infrastructure in the heart of its capital fall apart.”
The Politics of Blame
The blame game has lasted decades. Successive councils, governments, and mayors—Labour, Conservative, and Liberal Democrat alike—have all been accused of failing to act.
Some argue that London’s complicated system of bridge ownership has made matters worse, with Hammersmith Council saddled with responsibility for a crossing most heavily used by Richmond residents.
Even history has played its part. The bridge survived three IRA bombing attempts in the 20th century, but neglect and lack of proper maintenance over the past 20 years did the most lasting damage.
Failed Promises and Soaring Costs
When cracks first appeared in 2019, repairs were estimated at £120 million.
That figure has since doubled to £250 million, with no clear timeline for completion.
A government taskforce was set up in 2020 with promises to “get this sorted,” but four years later, progress has been painfully slow.
The bridge has had some patchwork fixes, including £48 million spent on bearings and decking.
Pedestrians and cyclists can now cross, but vehicles remain banned—and may stay that way for years.
Could a Toll Bridge Be the Answer?
Some engineers and campaigners believe a temporary solution has been unfairly ignored.
Maritime experts Beckett Rankine proposed building a toll bridge alongside the existing one, allowing for proper repairs while covering its own costs. The plan, they argue, could be completed in months.
Tim Beckett points to the Union Chain Bridge on the Scottish border, a suspension bridge older than Hammersmith, which was fully restored in just two years for £10.5 million.
Compared to Hammersmith’s spiraling £250 million price tag, the idea seems worth another look.
Local Resistance and Political Roadblocks
But politics again seems to stand in the way. Councillors claim voters won’t accept a temporary toll bridge in their neighborhoods, even if it would solve the problem.
Campaigners like David Morton argue that the idea has been dismissed too quickly, while TfL insists the decision lies with the council.
And so, once again, responsibility is passed from one authority to another while the bridge continues to crumble.
A National Embarrassment
Six years on, Hammersmith Bridge has become a national embarrassment.
International headlines have mocked London’s inability to fix its infrastructure, and residents are left frustrated, divided, and stranded.
As the bridge approaches its 200th anniversary, there’s still no clear plan.
Unlike Paris, which restored Notre Dame in record time, London risks celebrating this milestone not with triumph but with frustration.
A Test of Willpower
For now, Hammersmith Bridge stands as both a London landmark and a monument to political failure.
The question is no longer whether it can be saved, but whether anyone in power has the courage to make it happen.
Until then, residents on both sides of the Thames remain stuck, waiting for a miracle.