Beleaguered Hammersmith Bridge reopens for cyclists after £2.9million refurb - but still no decision on when drivers can use it
The 138-year-old bridge, which links Hammersmith to Barnes, has been closed off to cars since April 2019 after engineers discovered issues in its construction.
The wrought-iron structure was found to be riddled with cracks, leading the Labour-run Hammersmith and Fulham Council to deem it unsafe for traffic - and it has been closed to motorists ever since.
But over the Easter Weekend, the council reopened the listed bridge's main carriageway to cyclists.
The council said the new decking, which was installed in the refurb, would help users of eco-friendly transport such as e-scooters and bikes on the crossing.
The bridge is also now open to pedestrians, after some of the near £3million costs were used install wider pathways to help wheelchair users.
The council added that e-cargo bikes would be trialled on the refurbished carriageways to transport disabled residents and young children across the structure.
Despite the new announcements, there is yet again no information for drivers who have been unable to cross the bridge for more than six years.
MailOnline reported last month that a government-led taskforce is even considering a permanent car-free bridge, with only pedestrians and cyclists allowed.
Minutes from a closed-door meeting revealed that the taskforce were exploring the possibility of banning cars because it would be cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Meanwhile another proposal, among an original six, would have turned it into an inaccessible monument. Another would have seen the bridge demolished and replaced by a new river crossing. These were both rejected.
The shutdown of the Thames crossing has worsened congestion to much of west London as well as isolating residents in Barnes on the south side of the river, leaving thousands of drivers frustrated.
And the estimated cost of making the creaking infrastructure safe for cars and buses has ballooned to £250million despite initial estimates being less than half of that.
The bill is so far being footed by Hammersmith and Fulham Council, Transport for London (TfL), and the Department for Transport (DfT).
The DfT had intially suggested the council and TfL each pay a third of the repair costs, with the taxpayer funding the rest.
Repair work on Hammersmith Bridge was previously paused in December 2023, when a boat carrying West Ham fans to a match at Fulham collided with the gantry that provides access for workers to the bridge's underside.
The bridge, which survived three IRA attacks, is one of the world's oldest mechanical suspension bridges and Grade-II listed.
Designed by the noted 19th century civil engineer, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, it was built in 1887 and opened by then Prince of Wales, Albert Edward.
It is London's lowest bridge, with a water clearance of just 12 feet at high tide, and one of the capital's weakest, which is why weight restrictions have been in place since 2015.
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South Wales Argus
15 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Cardiff Capital Region wants action on Severn Bridge limit
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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Drink-drive deaths up 7% in a decade - as Labour plots breathalysers in new cars for convicted offenders
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The DfT's figures show that 5 per cent of casualties of all severities in 2023 occurred in drink-drive collisions. However, the breakdown varies across different countries. While the 5 per cent figure is consistent for England and Scotland - the latter having stricter drink drive limits - the average is higher in Wales (7 per cent). 'In general, the proportion of collisions involving a drink-driver has been higher in Wales over the past decade,' the report said. Meanwhile 124 people died due to drug driving in 2023, up from 90 people in 2022, the numbers show. The Department's published data also highlights a greater proportion of drink-drive collisions occurring late at night and in the early hours of the morning, reaching a peak of 8 per cent occurring between 11pm and midnight. The lowest proportion of drink-drive collisions occurred between 11am and midday, with 1 per cent. The data is also evidence male drivers are over-represented in drink-drive collisions. The majority of drivers involved in road injury collisions overall are men, with an even higher proportion of drink-drivers being male. In 2023, 80.6 per cent of drink-drivers were male. However, males made up only 69.3 per cent of drivers (excluding cyclists and horse riders) involved in all collisions where the gender of the driver is known. RAC road safety spokesperson Rod Dennis called the figures 'disturbing' and a 'frightening number of lives lost' on the UK's roads. 'It's simply unacceptable that an estimated 260 people a year lose their lives as a result of drink-drivers,' he said. 'It remains the case that the proportion of road deaths where drink-driving was a cause is at a similar level to the late 1980s. Drugs, too, are playing an increasing role in fatalities and are now behind a record number of fatal collisions. 'A new approach to tackling these repugnant crimes is desperately needed. We hope this will be a key part of the Government's forthcoming road safety strategy.' Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for The AA, added: 'While drink driving fatalities fell by 14 per cent between 2022 and 2023, drug driving deaths rose by 38% during the same period. 'This is truly shocking, and more needs to be done to stop people getting behind the wheel while impaired. 'More education, roadside testing and enforcement are key to get the message across that driving under the influence won't be tolerated.' Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAM RoadSmart, says Britain has become 'stuck in a dangerous rut' of not being able to reduce the death toll on our roads. 'We must redouble our efforts on enforcement, providing the police with the necessary tools to clamp down on drink drivers while reviewing our approach to both first time and repeat offenders,' he told us. The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. Nowhere else in Europe has a limit above 50mg/100ml. The Scottish Government reduced its limit to that level in 2014. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency statistics previously obtained by the PA news agency revealed 27,837 British motorists were convicted of drink-driving multiple times in the 11 years to 20 July 2024. Some 372 were caught at least four times, including four who were prosecuted on seven occasions. Labour 'considering' EU car safety tech - including breathalyser facilitation The report comes as Labour is said to be preparing to follow European laws and mandate that all new cars are fitted as standard with a raft of safety features, including black box-style recorders and equipment that enables breathalyser installations. Sir Keir Starmer's Government and the UK's automotive trade body has argued that differences in car manufacturing between Britain and Europe will lead to higher costs being passed on to the customer. But critics argue that the PM would be turning his back on the nation's freedom to set out its own regulations as part of Brexit. Lord Hendy, Minister of State for the Department for Transport, stated earlier this week in parliament that the government 'takes an explicit presumption in favour of alignment' in regard to how cars are manufactured. He added that the Government would be 'considering options for requiring the fitment of the safety technologies mandated by the EU's general safety regulation'. GRS2 regulations have been introduced over a three-phase period in the EU, beginning in July 2022. Included among the 19 mandatory features demanded for new cars entering European showrooms from 7 July 2024 is automatic speed limiters, driver drowsiness alert, Emergency Lane Keeping Systems, and 'Alcohol Interlock Installation Facilitation' - or AIIF. This would allow for the application of aftermarket alcohol interlock devices in vehicles. Alcolocks are already used in Finland, Belgium, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and many parts of the US. A recent poll found 53 per cent of drivers would support court-ordered breathalysers being fitted to cars of convicted drink-drivers in Britain. 'We've consistently been calling for a change in approach when it comes to reducing alcohol-related road deaths, as it's clear the status quo isn't working,' the RAC's Rod Dennis said. 'RAC research shows drivers are supportive of courts being given the powers to mandate the fitting of alcohol interlocks to offenders' vehicles to prevent them driving drunk again. This has the potential to reduce drink-drive casualties, especially among habitual offenders. 'Since 2022 we have urged the Government to consider mandating all new vehicles have interfaces that allow alcolocks to be fitted easily. 'We are also supportive of police being given the powers to immediately disqualify any driver who fails a drink or drugs test at the roadside.' EU mandated new vehicle safety technologies through the General Safety Regulation (GSR2) Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA): recognises traffic signs and provides an overspeed warning. It warns the driver when the speed limit is exceeded to increase speed limit compliance and reduce the severity of collisions. Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB): a collision avoidance feature that scans the forward path of the vehicle for potential impact targets and applies braking to avoid or mitigate a collision. Driver Drowsiness & Attention Warning (DDAW): an occupant monitoring feature using a driver-facing camera for direct driver monitoring. If it detects a driver looking away from the road for too long, it triggers warnings. Emergency Lane Keeping System (ELKS): a collision avoidance feature using forward-facing cameras and RADARs to prevent a vehicle leaving the lane of travel. Alcohol Interlock Installation Facilitation (AIIF): allowing for the application of aftermarket alcohol interlock devices in vehicles. Event Data Recorder (EDR): a black box in all cars that records and stores vehicle data shortly before, during, and immediately after a road traffic collision. Electronic Stability Programme (ESP): helps to prevent a loss of control in cornering and during emergency steering by stabilising the car if it veers off its intended path. This is generally already fitted to most new models. Emergency Stop Signal (ESS): when brakes are forcefully applied, the rear indicator lights will flash to alert other vehicles behind the car. Reversing Detection Systems (RD): alerts the driver to the presence of people or objects at the rear of the vehicle with the primary aim of avoiding collisions when reversing. Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS): monitors tyre air pressure and provides feedback in real-time to the driver to prevent accidents caused by under-inflated tyres. Cybersecurity: addresses the increase in connected vehicles on European roads which require robust cybersecurity to prevent them from being stolen.
Auto Express
2 days ago
- Auto Express
You could soon be forced to keep breathalysers and black boxes in your car
Labour could soon mandate breathalysers and black boxes on all new cars following a rise in drink and drug-driving deaths in the UK. Almost 400 people lost their lives in 2023 following a collision involving someone under the influence. The latest statistics from the Department for Transport show that while the number of people who died as a result of drink driving dipped slightly year-on-year by 14 per cent to a still-significant 260, the number who lost their lives as a result of drug driving rose significantly by 38 per cent to 124 in 2023. Advertisement - Article continues below Against a backdrop of such grisly statistics, Labour is considering adopting the EU's latest GSR2 car safety regulations, which could see the likes of alcolocks (essentially breathalysers that prevent those under the influence from driving), black boxes (which log details such as speed and inputs in the event of a crash) and drowsiness alerts all becoming mandatory in new cars. As of July 2024, all new cars in the EU are required to have been designed with the necessary preparations for an alcolock to be retroactively installed. A black box, however, must be installed from the point of purchase, with existing models expected to receive these updates by July 2026. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The Government says that mirroring the EU's regulations, while not obligatory as part of Brexit negotiations, would streamline production between left and right-hand-drive markets, thus helping drive prices down while also improving safety. This has been rebutted by the Conservative opposition, with former party leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, accusing Labour of 'incrementally moving back towards the European Union'. Regardless, director of policy and standards at road safety charity IAMRoadSmart, Nicholas Lyes, said that 'While the latest drink-drive-related fatality figures have declined compared to the previous year, the trend over the past decade is troubling and shows that we are stuck in a dangerous rut.' Lyes called on the Government to 'redouble [its] efforts on enforcement, providing the police with the necessary tools to clamp down on drink drivers, while reviewing our approach to both first-time and repeat offenders'. Labour's plans to introduce GSR2 regulations and thus things such as alcolocks is also something supported by the likes of the RAC, which has previously called for their introduction for repeat offenders. The RAC's spokesperson, Rod Dennis, said: 'We've consistently been calling for a change in approach when it comes to reducing alcohol-related road deaths, as it's clear the status quo isn't working. 'Since 2022 we have urged the Government to consider mandating all new vehicles have interfaces that allow alcolocks to be fitted easily,' Dennis continued. 'We are also supportive of police being given the powers to immediately disqualify any driver who fails a drink or drugs test at the roadside.' Did you know you can sell your car with Auto Express? Get the highest bid from our network of over 5,500 dealers and we'll do the rest. Click here to try Auto Express Sell My Car now ... Find a car with the experts Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Electric cars driven until they die: the truth about EV range Five EVs under £24k have joined Dacia's Spring on the UK market. How far can you go on a budget? We find out New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k New Citroen C5 Aircross SUV undercuts the Volkswagen Tiguan by a huge £7k Citroen's revamped flagship C5 Aircross SUV is available to order now with hybrid or electric power Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price Car Deal of the Day: Polestar 4 is a head-turning EV for a super cool price The 'car with no rear window' is looking seriously cheap on lease right now. It's our Deal of the Day for July 28
