Refurbishment Work Begins on London’s Iconic Hungerford Bridge
Network Rail has started refurbishing the historic Hungerford Bridge, aiming for completion by winter 2028 to ensure safety and reliability.
Hungerford Bridge, London, UK, Network Rail, Refurbishment, Thames
London: So, guess what? They’re finally giving the Hungerford Bridge a makeover! This bridge has been around for 161 years, and it’s about time it got some TLC. Network Rail kicked off the refurbishment on Thursday, and they’re planning to wrap it up by the end of winter 2028.
The bridge, which connects the South Bank to Charing Cross station, has been showing its age. Network Rail said it was starting to look a bit “old,” and they want to make sure trains can run safely. It’s made of those cool wrought iron lattice girders from the Victorian era, and it’s had a few repairs over the years, but now it’s time for a full restoration.
They’re investing a whopping £213 million over the next four years to spruce up various railway structures, and some will even be replaced entirely. It’s all about keeping things safe and reliable for passengers, you know?
As part of the refurbishment, they’ll be painting the bridge and checking the truss pins, but don’t worry, they’re keeping all the original metalwork intact. David Davidson, the Kent Route director, mentioned that many bridges in Britain are from the Victorian era, and it’s a big responsibility to maintain this national heritage.
The refurbishment will take three years, but here’s the good news: they won’t need to close the bridge to trains during the first phase. They’ll be working at night to keep disruptions to a minimum. Plus, they’re using barges to transport materials, which means fewer trucks clogging up central London.
The work will be done in phases, starting with the Southbank spans until January 2026, and then they’ll tackle the rest until winter 2028. Just a heads up for Londoners: there will be some weekend closures between 2026 and 2028, but they’re still sorting out the exact dates.