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Hammersmith Bridge closed because cracks in pedestals

Reuters Hammersmith Bridge closedReuters
Pedestrians and cyclists can still use the crossing between Hammersmith and Barnes

Hammersmith Bridge has been closed because of cracks in its pedestals, the footings which support the structure, it has been revealed.

In April, Hammersmith and Fulham Council said it had "no choice" but to shut the bridge to motorised traffic.

It has also emerged that engineers were monitoring the bridge when crowds congregated on it to watch the boat race - five days before it was shut.

Transport for London has been approached for comment.

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Cracks in pedestalsLondon Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Cracks have appeared in the north west and south west pedestals of Hammersmith Bridge

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by the BBC revealed that safety checks found the bridge's supports had seized up due to corrosion, causing flexibility to become compromised.

This had caused "hairline micro-fractures" in the iron casings around the pedestals of the bridge.

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Architectural drawing of the north west pedestal illustrating the location of the micro-fracturesLondon Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
One of the cracks is located in the base of the north west pedestal, according to architectural drawings released by Hammersmith and Fulham Council

Private vehicles and bus services have been banned from using the bridge but pedestrians and cyclists still have access to the crossing, from Barnes to Hammersmith.

The bridge opened in 1887 and requires reinforcing to cope with heavy motorised traffic.

The council had previously threatened to close the bridge after its strict rule allowing only one bus to cross at a time was broken.

A team of "18 world-class specialist engineers" are currently reviewing the bridge, Hammersmith and Fulham Council said.

It may take up to three years to repair the Grade II-listed, 132-year-old structure.