Hammersmith Bridge
Hammersmith Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the River Thames in west London. It links the southern part of Hammersmith in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, on the north side of the river, and Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, on the south side of the river. The current bridge, which is Grade II* listed and was designed by civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette, is the second permanent bridge on the site, and has been attacked three times by Irish republicans.
Hammersmith Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°29′18″N 0°13′49″W |
| Carries | A306 road |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | London, England |
| Maintained by | Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council |
| Preceded by | Barnes Railway Bridge |
| Followed by | Putney Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Material | Steel, wrought iron, cast iron, plywood |
| Pier construction | Stone |
| Total length | 700 ft (210 m) |
| Width | 43 ft (13 m) |
| Longest span | 400 ft (120 m) |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| Piers in water | 2 |
| Clearance below | 3.5 metres (11 ft) MHWS |
| No. of lanes | 2 (motor vehicles) |
| History | |
| Designer | William Tierney Clark (first bridge) Joseph Bazalgette (current bridge) |
| Constructed by | Dixon, Appleby & Thorne (current bridge) |
| Construction start | 1825 (first bridge) 1884 (current bridge) |
| Construction end | 1827 (first bridge) 1887 (current bridge) |
| Construction cost | £80,000 (first bridge) £82,117 (current bridge) |
| Opened | 6 October 1827 (first bridge) 11 June 1887 (current bridge) |
| Inaugurated | 6 October 1827 (first bridge) 11 June 1887 (current bridge) |
| Rebuilt | 1884–1887 |
| Closed | 10 April 2019 (motor vehicles) |
| Statistics | |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | Hammersmith Bridge |
| Designated | 12 May 1970 |
| Reference no. | 1079819 |
| Location | |
The bridge was closed indefinitely to all motor traffic in April 2019 after cracks were discovered in the bridge's pedestals. The closure was extended to pedestrians and cyclists between August 2020 and July 2021 when limited use resumed. In October 2022, Hammersmith and Fulham Council agreed to lodge a planning application to temporarily double-deck the bridge to speed up its restoration, with the council's construction and ongoing operation and maintenance costs set to be eventually funded by tolls.