Figures Show Peak Time Putney Bridge Crossings Have Surged
Meeting on Hammersmith Bridge hears more calls for reopening
Attendees at the recent meeting to discuss Hammersmith Bridge
January 29, 2025
A public meeting held in Putney recently about the issue of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to motorised traffic heard more details about the impact it has had on local roads.
The event on Saturday 25 June was timed to precede the reconvening of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce on Thursday (30 January) and came as Putney MP Fleur Anderson issued a warning that it could take a decade before vehicles can cross it again.
Wandsworth Council has also recently released new data which confirms the impression of many residents that the bridge closure has compounded existing problems with congestion.
Snapshot data from the DfT shows that between 2020 and 2023, the overall number of motor vehicles on Putney Bridge was estimated to have increased by 16%, from 32,083 to 37,239 and the council’s own automatic traffic count data shows a 25% increase in traffic during the morning peak hours between 2019-2023. Data from TFL has also confirmed that bus journey and waiting times have worsened.
The council says it will be using this data as part of its campaign to lobby for reopening and that it has been in regular contact with Transport for London, Hammersmith and Fulham Council, and central Government, pushing for solutions. It wants to see greater transparency and urgency from the reconvened taskforce chaired by local transport minister Simon Lightwood and on which the borough has a stakeholder seat.
As well as Fleur Anderson, the meeting was attended by Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg, London Assembly Member Leonie Cooper, other councillors and local residents.
Clllr Simon Hogg said, “The ongoing closure of Hammersmith Bridge has placed an unacceptable burden on the people of Wandsworth. Following the closure over five years ago, traffic has got increasingly worse on our local roads, resulting in regular gridlock and longer journey times for people commuting to work, school, and vital appointments. Businesses are struggling, emergency vehicles are delayed, buses are delayed, and our community is rightly frustrated at the inaction and lack of progress to reopen this key river crossing.
“As a listening Council, we stand firmly with our residents. We’ve raised their concerns directly with key decision-makers and continue to call for urgent and decisive action to fund and deliver the repairs needed to reopen the bridge to vehicles.
“We are fully committed to making sure that Wandsworth residents are not forgotten. We will continue to champion their concerns and press for swift action to reopen Hammersmith Bridge. It is time for Government, Transport for London, and all stakeholders to prioritise this issue and deliver for the people of South West London.”
You can email the Secretary of State for Transport and Minister for Roads to give your views on the re-opening of the bridge to vehicles and especially for buses.
You will need to submit your response via the the DfT's survey page.
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