Gauge

Hammersmith Bridge Timeline

A history of closures, repairs, and motor traffic on Hammersmith Bridge from 1983 to today, with a dated event timeline drawn from LBHF Council, GOV.UK taskforce updates, and contemporaneous news.

  1. Fully closed

    Suspension system failure

    Bridge closed after part of the suspension system gave way. Reopened after several months of repairs.

  2. Fully closed

    IRA bombs planted

    Provisional IRA plants two Semtex bombs on south bank. Detonators activated but bombs fail to ignite. Bridge closed for investigation.

  3. Restricted

    Closed to private motor vehicles

    Only buses (single file), bicycles, motorcycles, emergency vehicles and pedestrians allowed. Pre-closure: ~30,000 vehicles/day. Post-restriction: ~3,000 vehicles/day.

  4. Open

    Reopened to all road users

    Subject to 7.5 tonne weight limit and bus priority measures. After £5m strengthening works.

  5. Fully closed

    Real IRA bomb detonates

    Bomb detonates under the Barnes span at 4:30am. Bridge damaged and fully closed.

  6. Open

    Reopened after bomb repairs

    Approximately two years of repairs. New paint job restoring original 1887 colour scheme. Further weight restrictions. Single-decker buses only.

  7. Closed to motors

    Temporarily closed for repairs

    Short closure for repairs. New council commissions first Comprehensive Structural Integrity Review.

  8. Open

    Specialist monitoring begins

    Weekly safety inspections and ultrasound sensors installed. Strict restrictions on bus numbers.

  9. Closed to motors

    Closed to ALL motor traffic

    LBHF closes bridge indefinitely on safety grounds. Micro-fractures found in cast iron pedestals. Pedestrians and cyclists still allowed. TfL screenline recorded 25,869 motor vehicles/day in 2018.

  10. Closed to motors

    COVID lockdowns begin

    Traffic suppressed across all of London. Not related to bridge closure.

  11. Fully closed

    Closed to ALL users

    Heatwave causes rapid increase in micro-fractures. Bridge closed to pedestrians, cyclists, and river traffic.

  12. Closed to motors

    Reopened to pedestrians and cyclists

    Temperature control system installed on pedestals. One-way pedestrian system. Motor vehicles remain banned.

  13. Closed to motors

    Phase 1 stabilisation begins

    FM Conway begins works. Cyclists must dismount on central roadway.

  14. Closed to motors

    Resurfaced deck opens

    Dedicated cycle lanes, two-way pedestrian path. E-cargo bike shuttle trialled. Motor vehicles remain banned.

  15. Closed to motors

    Government reconvenes taskforce

    Roads Minister identifies bridge as candidate for Structures Fund. Repair cost now estimated at £250m+.

Common questions

When did Hammersmith Bridge close to motor traffic?
On 10 April 2019.
Why did it close?
Engineers identified critical micro-fractures in the cast-iron pedestals. The bridge was deemed unsafe for motor vehicles and, briefly in August 2020, for pedestrians and cyclists too.
When will it reopen?
Stabilisation works are complete and the full restoration is funded as of 2024. The latest taskforce updates point to a phased reopening; the timeline below tracks each milestone as it lands.
Has it been closed before?
Yes. Notable prior closures include the 1996 to 1999 strengthening works, the 2000 IRA bomb damage, and various weight restrictions. The vertical timeline below lists each dated event.
What does the traffic chart show?
TfL bridge-crossing counts (blue dots, every two years) and DfT approach-road AADF (grey dashed line) to 2019. The pre-1998 and post-2002 screenline segments are drawn as separate lines because the 1996 to 2002 strengthening and bomb repairs put a gap in actual bridge usage.