Relief as Wandsworth Bridge Reopens Late This Sunday
Repair and maintenance work has been completed on schedule
Traffic is flowing once again over the bridge
October 2, 2023
To the delight of residents and local businesses Wandsworth Bridge reopened this weekend.
The work to repair the bridge was finished by Sunday (1 October) with contractors working late into the day to ensure that the road could reopen.
Traffic flows across the river were full restored in both directions ahead of the travelling public’s journeys on Monday morning. The work commenced on 24 July with the council saying it would take around 10 weeks to complete so it has been finished on schedule.
To allow for the final phases of works, there will be lane restrictions in place until the end of October. This will reduce the bridge to one lane north and southbound.
The project involved the replacement of the crucial bearings which lie deep within the bridge’s substructure. The council says these critical pieces of infrastructure are central to the safe operation of the bridge by allowing it to flex and absorb movement during hot and icy spells of weather. Without this ability to expand and contract due to weather conditions the bridge structure would sustain damage rendering it unsafe for traffic.
To replace them involved the bridge being hydraulically lifted in stages so that the new bearings could be installed within its sub-structure.
The scheme also involved new water proofing of the bridge deck to prevent future internal corrosion and full carriageway resurfacing.
Looking ahead there are plans to introduce a new segregated northbound cycle lane to offer greater protection to cyclists as they cross the river.
Wandsworth Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Jenny Yates said, “This was a complex and challenging set of repairs which were vitally important if the bridge was to remain in safe working condition.
Some lane restrictions remain to allow the project to be completed
“I’m absolutely delighted that we have got the job done on time and on budget. We understand the closure to traffic has caused disruption and we’d like to apologise for the inconvenience it’s caused but these repairs were absolutely essential and I’m really pleased we have completed the task when we said we would.
“I’d also like to pay tribute to the hardworking team of council engineers and contractors who have all done an excellent job in seeing this scheme through to a successful conclusion.”
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