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Old September 16th 20, 12:59 AM posted to uk.transport.london
michael adams[_6_] michael adams[_6_] is offline
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First recorded activity at LondonBanter: Jan 2012
Posts: 56
Default Hammersmith Horror story


"Recliner" wrote in message
...
michael adams wrote:

"Recliner" wrote in message
...
D A Stocks wrote:
"Graham Harrison" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Sep 2020 16:02:11 -0000 (UTC), Recliner
wrote:

D A Stocks wrote:

It must be about time they dismantled the bridge for restoration and
preservation as an exhibit elsewhere (e.g. in a park) and built
something
more suitable for 21st century traffic in its place. Attempting to
repair
and maintain a structure that is barely fit for purpose is a waste of
time
and money.


Yes, that would probably be cheaper and quicker than restoring it to full
service. I wonder if they'd be allowed to build a modern, much stronger,
visually-identical replacement?

If you preserve the original why do you need a visually identical
replacement? Let's stop building faux-old buildings and structures and
build something modern.
Precisely. Why build a not fit for purpose visually identical replacement
when you can put something useful there instead?

The people in the area with river views would say any modern-looking,
award-winning, bridge was 'hideous'.


The only interesting bits are the truly extravagent cast iron mouldings at either end
where the cables end. Of which fibreglass replicas could probably be cast
from multiple moulds.

The pillars in the middle are nothing special and the deck of the bridge
doesn't form a pleasing single curve, but comprises four slightly curved
straight sections.

As it happens locals would probably welcome a more open view rather
than having their view obscured by the thick cables and pepper pot pillars,

IHMO while there are some truly outstanding bits, as a whole it doesn't
really add up to much.


There's bound to be some noisy heritage lobby that would be up in arms at
any suggestion that the bridge be removed and replaced with an anonymous,
low key modern bridge.

Meanwhile, a solution is at hand: there is now a DfT task force in place!

https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/hammersmith-bridge-task-force/

They're talking about £141m for repairs! I'm sure a decent, modern
replacement bridge with a long life would cost a fraction of that.


The problem is apparently cracks in the castings which were already known
about and sensors fitted and the fact these opened up due to the warm weather.
Whether there is any real possibility of bits dropping off or the bridge
collapsing totally thus meriting total closure both above and below
rather than this being an arse covering exercise, is open to question
IMO. "Repairs" would presumably mean somehow removing the cast iron shell
and cables, installing modern internals, replacing the deck and putting the
cast iron back in place. Pre Covid, I used to walk past it once or twice
a week.

The problem is, the existing bridge, as might be expected links up with all
the roads and there is very little scope on either bank for alternative approaches
to either a temporary bridge, of which there have been a number of proposals or
a new bridge, while the old bridge remains in place.

One cheaper solution might be to remove the deck and cables and install a modern
deck,on legs to run inside but independent of, the existing towers and suspension
system. And painted to match in that execrable shade of puce green as indicated
on the original plans.


michael adams

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