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Londoners, we have another bridge problem. Waterloo Bridge could be forced to close within the next three to four years if urgent repairs aren’t carried out, according to a council funding document obtained by Bloomberg.
An inspection apparently found water damage and cracks measuring up to 2mm, and Westminster City Council is now asking for £6 million to get the work done. If those repairs aren’t completed by the end of the 2029-30 financial year, Bloomberg reckons things could get rather more dramatic: the bridge could be subject to weight restrictions, or potentially shut altogether.
What’s wrong with Waterloo Bridge?
In short: it’s getting on a bit. The current Waterloo Bridge opened in 1945 and these days has more than 25,000 vehicles rattling across it every day, alongside thousands of pedestrians and cyclists. The latest inspection found water damage and cracking, which all needs to be dealt with before it become a bigger problem.
Waterloo isn’t alone among ailing London bridges. A few have been having something of a collective wobble lately, with Hammersmith Bridge famously closed to cars, restrictions introduced on Albert Bridge, and weight limits imposed on Vauxhall Bridge.
What happens if Waterloo Bridge actually closes?
Let’s hope we don’t get that far. Waterloo is one of the capital’s most useful Thames crossings, linking the South Bank with the Strand and Covent Garden. Cars, buses, taxis and bikes, as well as pedestrians, use it every day, so shutting it would inevitably send traffic looking for alternative routes. A closure could put even more pressure on neighbouring bridges and roads, while making journeys across the river considerably more annoying.
For now, though, there’s no need to reroute your commute. Waterloo Bridge is open as usual.
What can be done to save Waterloo Bridge?
As previously mentioned, it’s not just Waterloo that’s asking for some TLC. Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to cars since 2019 after cracks were discovered in its cast-iron structure, while Albert Bridge was hit with car restrictions earlier this year. Vauxhall Bridge has also faced weight restrictions, with further measures potentially needed in the coming years.
The government announced a £1 billion Structures Fund earlier this year to help councils tackle ageing bridges and other infrastructure, with funding allocations expected later in 2026. Westminster is hoping to secure some of that cash for Waterloo Bridge, but Caroline Russell, Chair of the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, called the figure a ‘drop in the ocean’.
No need to panic just yet. But if you’re particularly fond of crossing the Thames via Waterloo Bridge, you might want to appreciate it while you can. It has until the end of the decade to get itself together.
You can read Bloomberg’s full report here.
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