Waterloo Bridge faces closure ‘in three years’ without weight limits or repairs

Concern is growing over the condition of Waterloo Bridge (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

London bridges are at risk of falling down after concerns have been raised over another iconic river crossing in the capital.

Major London bridges are in trouble after structural issues have closed Hammersmith and Albert Bridges to vehicle traffic.

The latest crossing to make headlines due to its condition is Waterloo Bridge, which was built in 1942 to replace the original Georgian bridge after it was demolished.

It has diligently served Londoners through the years as traffic volume and weight of vehicles has ballooned.

And like other bridges, years of wear and tear have made their mark.

An inspection of Waterloo Bridge found water damage and cracks up to 2mm wide, documents provided to Bloomberg by Westminster Council reveal.

If further repairs are not carried out by the end of the 2029-30 financial year or the introduction of additional measures like weight limits, there could be a ‘full closure of Waterloo Bridge,’ the report says.

Metro approached Westminster Council for a comment.

It comes after Westminster, Vauxhall and Lambeth Bridges were placed on a ‘critical’ watchlist by Transport for London because of their condition.

All of the bridges scored under 40, a benchmark prompting an investigation or action for any structures below it.

The current Waterloo Bridge was built in 1942 to replace the first 1817 crossing (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

From July, Vauxhall Bridge had a weight restriction imposed, making it off-limits for large commercial vehicles like fully loaded lorries exceeding 18 tonnes.

While the limit will affect only around 0.5% or 200 out of the roughly 39,500 vehicles which use the bridge daily, it further raises concern over the future of London crossings.

Then there is the case of Hammersmith Bridge, which highlights the complexities surrounding London’s historic bridges.

The 139-year-old crossing was closed to cars in 2019 after cracks were discovered on the pedestals, and it is currently open to pedestrians and cyclists only.

Hopes for the full reopening of the bridge were shattered in June when the Hammersmith and Fulham Borough shelved plans for a full restoration due to a lack of financial options to cover the estimated £300 million repair bill.

The bridge’s full closure is said to have worsened congestion on both riverbanks and in Wandsworth in particular, while buses have been diverted, making simple journeys for residents longer.

Hammersmith Bridge remains open to light traffic like pedestrians and cyclists only (Picture: Noora Mykkanen)

Traffic has been moved to Chiswick and Putney bridges instead.

One glimmer of hope in the bridge saga is Albert Bridge in Kensington and Chelsea.

Nicknamed ‘The Trembling Lady,’ Albert Bridge followed in the footsteps of Hammersmith earlier this year when it was suddenly closed to cars after movement was detected in the structure.

Only pedestrians and bikes are allowed to use the Victorian bridge, but the council said it is committed to full repairs to the tune of around £8.5 million.

Kensington and Chelsea Borough said: ‘We are committed to reopening Albert Bridge to traffic as soon as it is safe to do so in 2027. Given the complex nature of the repair works, and that specialist sub-contractors will be needed, it is not currently possible to provide a definitive reopening date.’

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