Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce meeting, 27 November 2020

News Desk: Joint statement on progress made by the taskforce at its meeting on 27 November 2020.

The eighth meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce was held today, 27 November 2020.

It was chaired by Transport Minister, Baroness Vere. Attendees included the Project Director Dana Skelley plus representatives from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, the Greater London Authority, Transport for London (TfL), and the Port of London Authority.

Dana Skelley, speaking on behalf of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce, said:

The Taskforce held another productive meeting today. The Chair, Baroness Vere, noted the positive meeting with the Transport Secretary and Cllr Cowan, the leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, to discuss new proposals for the reopening of the bridge to both pedestrians and cyclists and motor vehicles. A further meeting on the temporary bridge proposals and funding is due to take place shortly.

Cllr Cowan updated the Taskforce on the new proposals from Delancey and Foster + Partners and discussed with the Taskforce how these might be incorporated into the current project plan.

Alongside DfT engineers and officials, I am continuing to provide project management support to assess and review all the proposals with the goal of enabling people to cross the river and move under the bridge as soon as possible.

The temporary ferry service is on track to be the most immediately available alternative river crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at Hammersmith Bridge.

The immediate mitigations work to the bridge’s two western pedestals is underway and contractors will be onsite from next week.

The Taskforce agreed to meet again in a fortnight.

The Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce was set up by the Department for Transport in September 2020 to work towards safely reopening the Hammersmith Bridge. The taskforce is chaired by Baroness Vere and includes representatives from TfL, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Network Rail, the Greater London Authority and the Port of London Authority.