Battersea bridge could take a year to reopen

9:56am Saturday 15th October 2005

Battersea Bridge will not reopen to cars until summer 2006, despite hopes it would be repaired much earlier, the News has learned.

The bridge has been shut since September 20 when a barge carrying 200 tonnes of gravel crashed into it.

Transport for London (TfL) said it would be shut for weeks possibly even months but gave no indication it could take up to a year to fix.

TfL allowed buses to cross the bridge from Monday but said it is not safe to fully reopen it to all traffic.

Drivers who attempt to use the bridge will be fined up to £100.

A TfL spokeswoman said contractors should begin repairs within six weeks.

She said: "Since the accident, TfL engineers have been working flat out assessing the consequences of the damage.

"This has enabled them to confirm that the bridge is able to carry buses safely in a single lane. "The volume of traffic that would be waiting to cross the bridge if it were to open to all vehicles would lead to excess queuing and widespread congestion in the surrounding road network as well as a safety risk on the bridge itself."

The grade II listed bridge normally carries 1,300 vehicles every hour at peak times.

Its closure has brought traffic chaos to neighbouring Wandsworth and Albert bridges and rush-hour gridlock to much of the surrounding area.

Battersea MP Martin Linton said: "I don't understand why it should take so long to open it to other vehicles.

"The last time this happened 15 years ago, the bridge was shut for nine months.

"I thought lessons would have been learnt from that experience so we could avoid it taking so long this time."

A TfL spokeswoman said it regretted the inconvenience caused but its priority must be to ensure the safety of the public and minimise the disruption on those who use the bridge and surrounding roads.

Wandsworth Council leader Edward Lister said: "We have not had any official confirmation from TfL that works are about to begin but if this press report is correct, then we are pleased there is now a repairs timetable in place, even if it has taken them an absurd amount of time to announce it.

"What we need to see now is a firm and crystal clear commitment from the mayor that the bridge will be fully repaired and reopened to all forms of traffic, and that this work will be finished as quickly as possible."

shalls@london.newsquest.co.uk