Albert Bridge closure sparks traffic chaos, residents say in letter

More than 2,000 people have backed an open letter demanding that Albert Bridge be repaired and reopened without delay, arguing that the shutdown has turned surrounding streets into gridlock. The west London crossing has been off-limits to vehicles since February, when a crack was discovered in a cast iron component at one of its abutments. Cyclists and pedestrians have still been able to use it, except for a two-day closure in April.

Repairs Could Stretch to 2027

Kensington and Chelsea Council, which owns the bridge, has warned that the vehicle closure could last until 2027 while repair work costing as much as £8.5m is completed. According to residents in Chelsea and Battersea, trips that once took minutes now run 40-50% longer, and bus services have grown unreliable. The letter was addressed to Kensington and Chelsea and Wandsworth councils, the mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL). It described the closure as "no longer an inconvenience" but "a significant quality-of-life issue". It called on the authorities to cooperate "with urgency, transparency and accountability" to minimise disruption during the repairs. Kensington and Chelsea council said it had applied for part-funding from TfL and the Department for Transport (DfT). However, Lord Khan has said the bill falls to the council. Speaking at City Hall, the mayor said responsibility for "renewing and funding upgrades" lay with the borough as the bridge's owner, adding that he and TfL would "continue to support the borough as far as possible".

Council: 'A Repair Like This Cannot Be Hurried'

Josh Rendall, the lead member for transport at Kensington and Chelsea council, said major repairs would "inevitably cause disruption". "We are dealing with a bridge that is over 150 years old, predates motor vehicles and was opened when Queen Victoria was on the throne," he said. "A repair like this cannot be hurried." He added that he was "regularly pressing" TfL to review traffic signals and arrangements. A Wandsworth Council spokesperson said: "We are in regular contact with local residents and businesses over this issue and recognise the delays and disruption that they are experiencing daily. "We completely understand their frustrations over the impact of the closure which was due to safety issues identified on the bridge by Kensington & Chelsea Council, who own and manage the bridge. "We're in constant communication with Kensington & Chelsea as well as TfL on behalf of residents in the surrounding area, including Battersea Bridge Road, who are living with the knock-on effects of these key road changes and need to be listened to. TfL and the mayor's office did not respond to the Local Democracy Reporting Service's request for comment on the letter.