Forum Topic

Military Bridge at Hammersmith

I think some people believe in unicorns as well.

Carl Wynne ● 2258d14 Comments

Well they believed Brexit would lead us to "sunny uplands". It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.

Chris Davies ● 2258d

I like the suggestion somebody made...of dismantling Hammersmith Bridge and re-installing it as a pedestrian bridge between Brentford and Kew Gardens.Then "Hammersmith" can start afresh.

Jim Lawes ● 2258d

If it were to be dismantled, then why not design a new bridge and use it again as part of the design? For example, a new bridge could do the heavy lifting, so to speak, and the original could be used as mere decoration put back in its place. No doubt it could even be re-used structurally, but that might not be as cost effective. It becomes a design/engineering problem starting from scratch, not piecemeal repair.

David Lesniak ● 2258d

I'm no expert but to dismantle and reassemble the bridge I think would be particularly difficult as the is a lot of cast iron in the structure which is strong but brittle at the same time and much would have to remade.London Bridge that went to the USA was largely stone blocks and a little like Lego bricks, much easier.The cost would surely be enormous.Calling in the military seems desperate and tells me a resolution of how to proceed and who will pay is still far from settled.For me, it puts into even sharper focus the pointless footbridge under Barnes Rail Bridge that is still going ahead at the cost of millions.I know it's a different Authority but it demonstrates how our money is spent 'landscaping the garden when the holes in the roof are ignored'.

Adrian Irving ● 2258d

I used to do combat bridging in the Army. Temporarily bridging the gap here would be fairly straightforward and can be done in a day but I don't think that would be suitable or safe over a period of time. A more suitable Bailey-type modular construction would take a few days but for it to be safe and useful over a period of time it's all about the abutments the ends rest on and linking it into/over existing footpath/road levels which can be a major civil engineering project depending on ambition.

John Hall ● 2258d

One of the problems with the present Hammersmith bridge is that at high tide there is insufficient clearance under the bridge for river boats - I recall being on a boat going downstream from Kew Pier that had to wait for the tide to ebb before attempting to pass under the bridge, and even then it scraped the cabin roof. An all-new bridge with greater clearance would allow new river taxis to operate at all states of the tide. It is unlikely that any significant part of the existing structure could be incorporated into a fit-for-purpose new bridge, hence my preference for moving it upstream for a working retirement as a pedestrian-only link between Kew Gardens and Brentford or Isleworth.

Richard Greenhough ● 2257d

Agree with Richard it needs more clearance beneath at high tide and like David's idea of reusing some of the old Bridge possibly just at the entrance from either side could be an easier option.

Janice Evans ● 2257d

"It is unlikely that any significant part of the existing structure could be incorporated into a fit-for-purpose new bridge"Unlike you, Richard, I wouldn't underestimate gifted designers and engineers. Great solutions aren't borne by saying no. They are borne by saying yes and how.

David Lesniak ● 2257d

DL > "They are borne by saying yes and how."Which inevitably leads to how long and how much!?

John Whitworth ● 2257d

"Contact Mabey Bridge for rapid-build, modular steel bridging solutions for permanent, temporary and emergency applications worldwide."

Steve Taylor ● 2257d

Seriously, why not? Looks like an ideal solution.

Bruce Hammal ● 2257d

if they are saying it could collaspe it any second, it should be taken dismanted ASAP.  If this was a building on a street, it would demolised, listed status or not.  It sounds like its a danager???

Mike Chisholm ● 2257d

"Which inevitably leads to how long and how much!?"Indeed, John. Any solution leads to that point. It has nothing to do with good or bad design. An especially clever solution would tick that box and, get this, might be able to salvage parts of the original to be used again almost in situ.

David Lesniak ● 2256d

I was passing in the vicinity of Teddington Lock this evening and noticed that their pedestrian bridge had a similarity to Hammersmith Bridge.I thought that if HB was even in part moved to Isleworth or Brentford it would blend in somehow.Just a midnight thought.

Jim Lawes ● 2256d