Transport For London Work On Chiswick Bridge

Project details for the eighty-year old Grade II listed structure

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed details of its works to strengthen and refurbish the Grade II listed Chiswick Bridge, restoring the 80 year old structure for continued use. The work will result in some disruption to road users, with lane closures and occasional night-time closures - the project is expected to be complete by Spring 2015.

Work on this major restoration project will continue after the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on April 6 - the barriers have been taken down so that the thousands of spectators who come to watch the race can do so easily this year. During the pre-works, there was limited access to pedestrians and cyclists along the pavements on both sides of the bridge. It also resulted in some lane closures.

TfL says: "The bridge, which crosses the River Thames in West London, was opened in July 1933 and carries around 40,000 vehicles, as well as hundreds of cyclists and pedestrians each day. Survey work found that some sections of the bridge parapet and internal structures have significantly deteriorated. While it remains safe to use, some aspects need to be replaced to ensure that the structure can last for many more years to come."

TfL says has it worked hard to design the works to ensure that the bridge remains open at all times. However, the bridge will be reduced from two lanes to one in both directions between 10.00 and 16.00 to provide a safe working zone on the footway. There will also be occasional night time lane closures between 22.00 and 05.00.

A full weekend closure will be required in autumn 2014 to carry out work to replace the bridge expansion joints, as well as waterproofing and resurfacing. More information about this phase of works, including dates and times of these closures and diversion routes, will be made more widely available nearer the time.

"TfL has been working with key partners to develop a programme that will repair the structure of the bridge and restore its heritage features. Parapets along the edge of the bridge will be strengthened and the steps to and from the riverside repaired. A segregated cycle lane will also be installed on the footpath to improve facilities for cyclists. Concrete repairs will be made inside the structure to strengthen and restore the bridge and the existing footways and carriageways waterproofed and resurfaced to improve the overall look.

"Lighting across the bridge will also be upgraded with new energy efficient heritage lighting, which will replicate the design of the lighting on the bridge when it first opened. Lighting on the stairs from the bridge to the riverside will also be upgraded with lighting on the southern side installed for the first time in the bridge’s history".

Garrett Emmerson, Chief Operating Officer for Surface Transport at TfL, said: “Chiswick Bridge is a much loved heritage structure in West London, providing a vital river crossing as well as an excellent viewing point for the annual Boat Race. These works will restore the bridge to its original splendour and ensure that it can remain a key landmark for years to come.  We’re working hard to deliver these improvements while keeping the bridge open, helping to ensure they cause the minimum disruption to road users, local residents and businesses.”

TfL says it has worked with key partners including the local boroughs, English Heritage and the Port of London Authority to ensure that the improvement work has been scheduled to ensure it avoids a clash with major events and will be undertaken with the minimum of disruption. TfL has written to some local residents to inform them of the refurbishment, as well as businesses and local transport groups. More detail about the refurbishment work is available on TfL’s website at www.tfl.gov.uk/chiswickbridge

April 4, 2014