Kensington & Chelsea (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Motorists in Kensington are warned of inevitable delays during the half-term closure of an iconic bridge, as authorities carry out essential maintenance work.
Next week, Albert Bridge will close for necessary maintenance, so drivers are being asked to plan ahead and stay away from it.
Vehicles will not be allowed to cross the famous West London river in either direction between 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, and 6 a.m. on Monday, June 2.
Although traffic is predicted to be higher than usual, drivers will be able to detour via Battersea Bridge or Chelsea Bridge.
The bridge’s management, Kensington and Chelsea Council, stated that in order to minimize the impact on traffic, the repair is being done over the summer half-term.
It is anticipated that council engineers would fix the bridge deck, street lighting, and expansion joints during the six-day closure. These enable the bridge to adapt to variations in temperature as well as the weight of cars and wind.
According to the council, there will be pavement improvements as well, although these will be carried out gradually to guarantee constant pedestrian access across the bridge. When crossing, cyclists are being advised to dismount.
According to the council, the bridge deck is composed of 715 separate timber panels that are fastened to the timber sections underneath. During the closure, about 10% of the total deck will be replaced since it is reportedly decaying.
Weather and traffic can deteriorate the panels, causing the carriageway’s surface to deteriorate and allowing water to seep into the timber parts underneath.
Additionally, the rubber between expansion joints will be replaced by council personnel. It is necessary to replace the fading rubber that is positioned between the joints to keep water from getting to the bearing underneath the bridge.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for environment and planning, said: “Keeping an iconic listed bridge operational does take regular maintenance. We have to be responsible stewards of Albert Bridge, which is both a landmark of the London skyline and a vital crossing point.
We know this is a short-term inconvenience to drivers so we’re grateful to everyone for being patient. Without these works, we risk harm to the bridge so it’s not optional. If we want to keep the bridge open, we have to look after it, now and in the future.”
The council imposed a three-ton weight restriction on the bridge for cargo vehicles in January 2024. The council sent out 37,954 penalty fee notices for drivers who violated the weight restriction between January 11 of last year, when enforcement started, and April 20 of this year.
According to the council, drivers are fined according to the official revenue weight of their vehicle, which is also referred to as the maximum gross weight and can be found on the DVLA website.
Drivers who violated the three-ton weight limit were fined slightly more than £630,000 by Kensington and Chelsea council in June of last year.
Between January and May 27, 2024, 11,766 drivers were fined £130. Additionally, it revealed that 68% of drivers had their fines lowered to £65 since they paid within the allotted 14 days.
How will the closure impact local businesses and residents?
Businesses, eateries, and services in the immediate vicinity may notice a decline in business during the closure time as a result of traffic being redirected away from the bridge. For small enterprises that mostly depend on local traffic and client convenience, this is particularly important.
Detours to neighboring bridges, such as Battersea Bridge and Chelsea Bridge, will probably result in traffic jams, deterring tourists from visiting the area and causing delays for locals and delivery services.
Regular commuters who use Albert Bridge may experience inconvenience and lengthier travel times, which could interfere with their daily schedules and ability to access nearby amenities.
Local foot traffic patterns may be impacted by delays caused by increased foot traffic and bicycle detours, even though pedestrian access on one footway is still open.