AN ICONIC UK bridge used by 16,000 drivers every day is set to close for a whopping six weekends as cyclists and pedestrians face diversions.
The bridge will be closed for 24 hours every Friday until November 29.
Hammersmith Bridge will be closed for 24 hours every Friday until November 29[/caption]
Hammersmith Bridge is scheduled for major improvements to enhance the experience for pedestrians and cyclists.
The 137-year-old structure will have its corroded parts replaced with rubber bearings.
Once the initial works are complete, the Grade II listed bridge will undergo further refurbishment to provide more space for cyclists, pedestrians, and scooter riders.
Hammersmith Bridge was completely closed in 2020 and has remained off-limits to vehicles since then.
However, it reopened to pedestrians and cyclists the following year, though they faced a tight squeeze due to ongoing work taking much of the space.
During the planned closure, those needing to cross the bridge will have to use an alternative route further down the path.
The dates Hammersmith Bridge will be closed:
- Friday, October 25 at 9pm to Saturday, October 26 at 9pm
- Friday, November 1 at 9pm to Saturday, November 2 at 9pm
- Friday, November 8 at 9pm to Saturday, November 9 at 9pm
- Friday, November 15 at 9pm to Saturday, November 16 at 9pm
- Friday, November 22 at 9pm to Saturday, November 23 at 9pm
- Friday, November 29 at 9pm to Saturday, November 30 at 9pm
The 137-year-old Grade II listed bridge isn’t the only planned closure causing havoc for commuters this weekend.
A major motorway used by 130,000 drivers every day us set to close in both directions next week.
M4 CLOSED
The M4 will be closed in both directions between junction 18 and 19 from 7pm October 18 to 6am October 21.
The disruption is planned due to maintenance work on the A432 Badminton Road Bridge.
Fortunately, a diversion route will be in place, but drivers are warned to expect major congestion.
However, officials have advised motorists to avoid the area if possible while the work is being done.
The Badminton Bridge is set to be demolished next year after an investigation found irreparable damage to the structure.
Officials revealed that demolition was considered the quickest and most economical approach.
During the closure, workers will build trenches beneath the motorway to divert utilities currently within the bridge.
If the planned work isn’t completed within the given timeframe, drivers could face another set of M4 closures from 7pm on October 25 to 6am on October 28.
Sean Walsh, National Highways route manager, said: “This is one of the busiest sections of the motorway in the South West which is why we are giving drivers as much notice as possible so they’re able to plan their journeys well in advance.
“Our message for anyone who plans to travel on the M4 around Bristol is to avoid the area if you can – if that’s not possible, allow yourself plenty of extra time to complete your journey via our signed diversion routes and expect delays.”
It comes after a huge motorway used by 140,000 vehicles every day is set for a series of closures throughout the next couple of weeks.
And a poll has revealed England’s worst motorway.
M4 motorway facts and figures
Length
The M4 is 189 miles long.
Route
The M4 runs from Chiswick to Pont Abraham in Carmarthenshire, passing through major cities and towns, including Reading, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea.
Traffic
The M4 carries an average of 130,000 vehicles per day and is prone to congestion, making it one of the busiest motorways in the UK.
Smart Motorway
The M4 has several sections that are smart motorways, including:
- Junctions 19–20: This section north of Bristol has variable speed limits and a part-time hard shoulder.
- Junctions 24–29: This section in Newport has a permanent 50 mph limit and average speed cameras.
- Junctions 3–12: This 32-mile section is the longest smart motorway scheme in the UK. It includes lower noise surfacing, new gantries, new signals, new CCTV cameras, and more.
Emergency areas
There are 59 places to stop in an emergency, including hard shoulder sections and junction slip roads.
Motorway-to-motorway interchanges
The M4 has the UK record of five consecutive motorway-to-motorway interchanges
