Waterloo Bridge faces closure risk without £6m repairs
An inspection found cracks, prompting Westminster City Council to seek millions for urgent structural work.
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One of central London's busiest crossings, Waterloo Bridge, faces potential closure or weight restrictions within the next few years unless urgent repairs are funded. An inspection revealed cracks up to 2mm in the bridge's structure, prompting Westminster City Council to seek £6 million for necessary work. The bridge currently carries more than 25,000 vehicles each day.
Funding and Timeline Concerns
Waterloo Bridge faces closure risk without £6m repairs
Westminster City Council seeks funding for urgent work to prevent potential weight limits or full closure within four years.
A council funding document obtained by Bloomberg indicates that the bridge could be forced to close within three to four years if repairs are not completed. The publication also reported that if the necessary work is not finished by the end of the 2029-30 financial year, weight restrictions may be imposed. The current Waterloo Bridge, which opened in 1945, also serves thousands of pedestrians and cyclists daily.
The potential closure of Waterloo Bridge, which connects the South Bank with the Strand and Covent Garden, could cause significant disruption. This would likely increase traffic on neighbouring bridges and roads, extending journey times across the river. Westminster City Council hopes to secure funding from the government's £1 billion Structures Fund, with allocations expected later in 2026. Caroline Russell, chairwoman of the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, has described the sum sought as insufficient for the scale of the problem.
What happens next
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Westminster City Council is seeking £6 million for urgent repairs. Funding allocations from the government's £1 billion Structures Fund are expected later in 2026, which the council hopes to access. The bridge remains open as usual for now.
Questions this report answers
+Why might Waterloo Bridge face closure?
An inspection found cracks up to 2mm in the bridge's structure. Without urgent repairs costing an estimated £6 million, the bridge could face weight restrictions or closure within three to four years.
+How much money is needed for repairs?
Westminster City Council is seeking £6 million for urgent repairs to Waterloo Bridge. The council hopes to secure this funding from the government's £1 billion Structures Fund.
+When could restrictions be imposed on Waterloo Bridge?
If repairs are not completed by the end of the 2029-30 financial year, weight restrictions may be imposed on Waterloo Bridge. A full closure is possible within three to four years if work does not proceed.
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