Safety Concerns Raised About Chiswick Footbridge Alternative Route
Better lighting and salting called for as winter approaches
Grove Park residents say the steps up to the bridge will be more dangerous during winter.
Picture: ChiswickW4.com
October 24, 2025
With the evenings starting to draw in and the prospect of colder weather nearer, concerns are being raised about the safety of the alternative route being used during the prolonged Chiswick footbridge closure.
The crossing at Chiswick Station was originally scheduled to reopen before autumn after being shut on Saturday 2 August. However, Network Rail now says that the structure’s condition was “significantly worse than initially anticipated”. During the works, engineers identified extensive deterioration requiring additional steel repairs. These repairs demand further access to the railway, which must be scheduled during periods when no trains are running — a constraint that has extended the timeline.
Network Rail’s latest statement is that the footbridge won’t open before February 2026 which means that station users will need to walk up and down the steep staircase to reach Grove Park Bridge through the winter months. Ominously, it has been unwilling to commit to any date at the station and regular users have been speculating that the closure could continue through much of next year.
Grove Park residents who have contacted Network Rail to ask for improved lighting and salting during icy weather on the steps say that the responses they have received have been dismissive and that Network Rail has indicated that it will not be taking any further measures to improve safety at the bridge.
Hounslow Council says that it is responsible for the road and pavement that goes over Grove Park Bridge but that the steps are owned by Network Rail. This means that there is nothing that it can do about lighting, but it has committed to grit the steps during icy weather.
The footbridge is currently partially dismantled with no work taking place. Picture: ChiswickW4.com
Cllr Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and transport, said “The safety of local people is a priority for the Council.
“The road bridge section of Grove Park Bridge Road is owned by Network Rail. The steps are attached to the bridge and are not owned by the Council.
“National Rail is responsible for these steps, and we will raise the need for lighting with them as a safety concern.
“However, we can reassure local people that our teams grit the steps when gritting footways in snowy conditions, as a gesture of goodwill.”
We have asked Network Rail to confirm that the steps are its responsibility and if it plans to take any mitigation measures for passengers forced to use them during the footbridge closure.
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