The bridge – a key link across the Thames in the area – was previously shut to motor vehicles in spring 2019 when ‘micro-fractures’ were discovered in the cast iron casings around the bridge pedestals during a routine safety check. It remained open for use by pedestrians and cyclists and restoration work has since been under way.

However deterioration of the structure was exacerbated by high temperatures felt recently, which led to sudden expansion of the cracks. The bridge will now remain closed until engineers are confident it is safe to reopen to pedestrians and river traffic.

“Safety is the number one priority,” said Hammersmith & Fulham Council leader Stephen Cowan. “I’m absolutely sure that we averted a catastrophe by closing this 19th Century suspension bridge to motor vehicles last year.”

During the heatwave, contractors made efforts to reduce the temperature of the structure by hosing down its pedestals and chains with cold water to prevent failure.

However this failed to stop the expansion of cracks in the cast iron, which can shatter. The bridge also carries decades of unchecked corrosion.

“I appreciate how inconvenient this will be to thousands of people on both sides of the river and I am sorry about that, but we must follow the engineers’ advice which is why the bridge will be closed with immediate effect,” Stephen Cowan announced on Friday.

“We will update everyone as soon as engineers have investigated the scale of the recent damage. I have instructed them to find a plan to safely reopen it as quickly as they can.”

A nearby temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists was proposed earlier this year to allow accelerated work on Hammersmith Bridge.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council says its attempts to secure the necessary funding from Government to restore Hammersmith Bridge have been unsuccessful.

While Transport for London has paid for much of the work so far, a recent bid to stabilise the bridge was also rejected by the authority, which has faced a major loss of revenue due to Covid-19.

Last week’s full closure “shows how much more work is required to get this beautiful bridge fully restored”, said Stephen Cowan. “We are – once again – calling on the Government to fund the final phases of the restoration work.”

(Photograph: George Rex and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)