Hammersmith bridge closure was over-cautious and it could be reopened within weeks to pedestrians and cyclists, reports reveal | Evening Standard

The closure of Hammersmith bridge was over-cautious and it could be reopened within weeks to pedestrians and cyclists, a bombshell Government analysis has revealed.
Two expert reports said Hammersmith and Fulham council adopted a “conservative” approach to assessing the safety of the 133-year-old bridge when deciding to close it to vehicles in April last year and then to walkers and cyclists this August.
One expert commissioned by the Department for Transport said it was “unlikely” the bridge would suffer a complete collapse.
As a result, the council was urged on Thursday to “look again” at partially reopening the bridge early next year and allowing river traffic to pass underneath.
However plans to launch a ferry service from around Easter are continuing in case the damage to the bridge’s cast iron structure is worse than feared, or in the event it has to be closed again at short notice.