Commuters who used to use London’s Hammersmith Bridge, closed since April 2019 to vehicles and to pedestrians and cyclists since last August, will be getting some relief soon with a temporary ferry service provided by Transport for London
The 133-year-old suspension bridge was closed because of cracks appearing in its towers, and there is so far no agreed plan for repair or replacement. Before its closing it was a key route for London buses as well as individual commuters.
Under a new agreement between the UK Department for Transport and TfL, part of a £1.7 billion bailout, TfL is required to establish the temporary ferry by the new year, and to accelerate planning for getting the bridge back in service.
While London had many ferries in times past, the new Hammersmith ferry will join only two other cross-river ferries in London. One has been operating since the 14th century at Woolwich, in the eastern part of the area, and the other, a small privately-owned service, crosses the Thames at Richmond, near Ham House. There is also an extensive system of water buses that run routes up and down the river.
Google maps didn’t know it was closed. They do now if they read their mail. Good work, Gumbo News Team!