Hammersmith Flyover closure is “economic disaster”

The continuing closure of the Hammersmith flyover is an economic disaster for West London, says LB Hammersmith & Fulham.

The flyover closed before Christmas, after serious strutural flaws were found during a routine survey. Now after a week of “intensive monitoring and examination of structural defects” Transport for London (TfL) has been forced to conclude that the flyover will remain closed to traffic until further tests have been completed during the next week – taking the closure to at least mid-January.

The closure caused huge congestion around Hammersmith Broadway before Christmas, and the continued closure is expected to produce heavy loads for other routes, and congestion through a large slice of West London.

The damage to the ageing 1960’s structure has been caused by water ingress, including salt water due to grit laid during the winter months, which has corroded and weakened the cables which help support the flyover.

Leon Daniels, TfL’s Managing Director of Surface Transport, said: “We are working flat-out to determine what measures we must put in place to safely reopen the flyover as soon as possible.”

Deputy leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council, Cllr Nick Botterill, says: “The closure is a disaster for local residents, motorists and the borough’s economy, and this council will do everything in its power to mitigate any further adverse impact a continued closure will have.”