West London bridge was so wobbly it made bus driver 'nearly seasick'

A transport minister has shared his near-seasick experience driving a bus over the wobbly Hammersmith Bridge, which was later closed due to structural instability. Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill shared his personal tale as peers voiced their frustration over the prolonged closure of the key historical Thames crossing into London. The continued failure to fully reopen the 137-year-old bridge , which has been twice bombed by the IRA in its history, was described as a "stain" on the country’s reputation.

Lord Hendy revealed that work to prevent the iconic Victorian landmark from collapsing is set to be completed by next April, but warned that future renovation would cost at least £250 million. The question of who will foot the bill for the restoration of one of the world's oldest suspension bridges, owned by Hammersmith and Fulham Council , remains unresolved. Former bishop of Oxford Lord Harries of Pentregarth urged the Government to take action, stating: "Hammersmith Bridge is a major entry point into London and hundreds of thousands of commuters have been very badly inconvenienced for more than five years.



During that time, Notre Dame was gutted by fire and rebuilt." Highlighting the urgency for central funding to address critical infrastructure issues, the independent crossbencher said: "At the moment, it is a stain on our national reputation as a country with the capacity and the will to get things done." In response, Lord Hendy remarked that while he wasn't responsible for past delays under the previous government, he noted that a dedicated bridge taskforce, dormant for over three years, is set to reconvene.

Addressing peers, Lord Hendy commented: "The bridge is an iconic structure – perhaps not as iconic as Notre Dame, but it is certainly useful locally. It was built in 1887 from wrought iron, it has been bombed twice by the IRA, has not been properly maintained for decades, and nearly fell down five years ago." He added with a personal anecdote: "Some will know that I can drive a public service vehicle.

I must be the only person here who has driven one over Hammersmith Bridge in traffic, and I can tell you that the forward motion of the bus was accompanied by the lateral motion of the bridge – and the vertical motion of the bridge. It is the only time driving a bus I have nearly felt seasick." Additionally, Lord Hendy stated that it rests with the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Richmond upon Thames to determine the future of the bridge.

He stated: "The stabilisation work has stopped it from literally collapsing, but the capacity of the bridge to take traffic as well as pedestrians and cyclists will cost a lot more money, and the boroughs will have to work with Transport for London to decide how the bridge is going to be used." He added: "It was designed and built for horse-drawn traffic, it has never been particularly strong." Stay updated on the latest travel news for London's roads, trains, and buses with our London Traffic and Travel newsletter.

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