DfT and LBHF refuse FOI request to confirm if FosterCOWI is technically viable. June 2025

DFT and LBHF have both refused to provide information following an FOI request to disclose the results of the drilling into the piers of Hammersmith Bridge which should have revealed whether FosterCOWI is even technically viable. They have also refused to answer all other questions raised below.

FAO Rt Hon Simon Lightfoot MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport

FAO Cllr Stephen Cowan Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Dear Rt Hon Simon Lightfoot MP and Cllr Stephen Cowan,

Hammersmith Bridge SOS has sought to raise political awareness and help find solutions for the re-opening of Hammersmith Bridge to traffic. Phase 1 Stabilisation has finally been completed after 6 years, but there is still no agreed and financed plan for Phase 2 - strengthening. LBHF’s own assessments show that many of the components of Hammersmith Bridge have already 'exceeded their fatigue life’ (see attached FOI response), so the bridge obviously can’t be left as it is for much longer. With the recent approval of the Mortlake Brewery development of 1100 residences plus a school, restoration of bus (and hopefully all) traffic across Hammersmith bridge should be an important goal for South West London to avoid gridlock.

Sarah Olney’s office has this week confirmed that DfT officials and LBHF are working on viable options for the bridge, and we would appreciate some further clarification as an FOI request. We are pleased to see that options are still being considered that would allow for vehicles to cross the bridge – particularly Buses for those less mobile, and also blue lights. Please confirm what options are being considered to allow buses to resume, in addition to FosterCOWI?

Specifically, is strengthening along the lines of the attached Skelley/Coles report plus a pedestrian bridge being reconsidered, and if not, why not?

Please confirm if FosterCOWI is even technically viable – LBHF said in an FOI response attached that “Technical analysis of the core samples will be completed in Q1 2025 and provide information about the ground conditions and loading bearing”, but this information has not yet been released although we asked Heidi Alexander to request LBHF for it to be ready for the last Task Force meeting.

It has been difficult to get accurate information, but we note that the most recent cost estimates for Foster Cowi are £250m[1]. When FosterCOWI was first proposed in April 2021 it was estimated at £100m[2] for the strengthening. In contrast, the Dana Skelley/ David Coles report of May 2021 said that strengthening via a standard repair would cost £80m (though this may not include the costs of a temporary pedestrian bridge?). Following the invasion of Ukraine, steel prices have rocketed and so too has the cost for FosterCOWI. However, LBHF have previously confirmed to us in FOI responses that they had no up to date costings for a standard repair and pedestrian bridge.

We do ask LBHF and the Task Force to re-consider this option as it may now be significantly cheaper than FosterCOWI. Mabey Bridge have confirmed to us that their standard re-usable bridge could achieve an unsupported span of 81m (2021 cost of <£5m excluding piling). A stand-alone temporary pedestrian bridge has the advantage that the bridge would not be closed entirely to pedestrians – whereas FosterCOWI would require frequent total closure during installation and removal, and whenever sections of the bridge were removed or replaced– cutting Barnes residents off from 4 tube lines at Hammersmith and those on both sides of the river from multiple large schools. A pedestrian bridge by Riverside studios was considered but would have been expensive as it envisaged preserving Hammersmith dock - which is never used (see below). Have LBHF/Task Force considered a pedestrian bridge on the shorter West side from St Pauls school to Digby Mansions road (with the loss of a few parking spaces). The school has previously indicated it would allow use of a small strip of its land on a temporary basis.

Finally, what options are the Task Force considering for funding? The London Assembly Transport Committee report made an excellent recommendation to devolve London’s Vehicle Excise Duty to TfL and make the National Roads Funding schemes available to London Boroughs to fund bridge repair.

We do look forward to your responses to the issues raised.

Best Regards,

[HBSOS]

[1] https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-reopen-cars-fifth-anniversary-closure-london-b1150824.html

[2] https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/engineering-plan-behind-hammersmith-bridges-double-decker-solution-07-04-2021/ and https://www.bdonline.co.uk/news/foster-plan-for-hammersmith-bridge-could-slash-40m-from-repair-bill/5111026.article