Hammersmith Bridge

HC Deb 23 June 1952 vol 502 cc1820-1

16. Mr. W. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average daily traffic across Hammersmith Bridge.

Mr. Braithwaite

According to the most recent traffic census, taken by the Metropolitan Police on 26th July, 1949, approximately 13,000 vehicles, including 2,700 pedal cycles, crossed Hammersmith Bridge between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

17. Mr. W. T. Williams

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take in view of the proposed repairs to Hammersmith Bridge to prevent the inconvenience that will follow from closing the bridge.

Mr. Braithwaite

I am afraid that the necessary closing of this bridge for repairs will inevitably cause inconvenience to the public. The London County Council will complete the work with all possible speed, and the police and the London Transport Executive will make known in good time arrangements for the re-routeing of buses and other vehicular traffic.

Mr. Williams

As there are 13,000 vehicles passing over this bridge every 12 hours, and as this is the only bridge between Putney and Hammersmith—a diversion would be something like 4½ miles—would not the Minister consider an alternative to the complete closing of the bridge, such as either half closing the bridge or giving the Royal Engineers some practice in building a Bailey bridge across the river, thus avoiding some of the inconvenience? Am I not right in assuming that the work is expected to take some three months?

Mr. Braithwaite

All that is true, and, in fact, consideration was given to all those points, but my right hon. Friend's predecessor authorised the complete closure of the bridge because the repairs could not be delayed beyond this summer. It is hoped to complete them within two or three months, and pedestrians and cyclists will be able to use the bridge while the work is in progress.

Mr. Williams

Is it not possible to close half the bridge and use the other half, or alternatively, possibly, to throw a Bailey Bridge across?

Mr. Braithwaite

These points were considered, but it was felt that to do the whole job at once while the hours of daylight are longest—in July, August and September—was the best solution.