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Post by snowman on Apr 11, 2019 8:40:11 GMT
Cracks can occur at anytime ... better to have a process in place to detect them than not .. what is the better alternative? I'm not going to disagree, as that's exactly what I said to Sid. Again I stress [no pun intended!] that formation of a large crack that quickly is a worry, however that is a personal opinion and not a statement of fact. The better alternative [as you can only have one alternative] would have been to shut the bridge to motor or just bus traffic years ago, again IMO. I assume the discovery of a crack is somewhere critical like the suspension chains, and not something like a deck panel that could be replaced in few days. I'm not a structural engineer, but I know enough to know there are basically 3 loads on the bridge: the deadweight of the deck; dynamic load caused by vehicles passing over (pedestrians and cycles are light so not much effect) and this moves as the bus passes along the bridge; and wind load (probably fairly low as it is lattice, not solid). From memory there are Triple suspension chains and presumably one of these has cracked so load needs to be reduced asap to stop crack spreading, or breaking through. Around the country there are dozens of old bridges shut to vehicles where a new stronger (and wider) bridge has been built nearby, but site is not easiest to build a new nearby bridge whilst maintaining view of listed bridge
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Post by londonbusboy on Apr 11, 2019 9:54:24 GMT
Local councils have had their budgets slashed to pieces by the current and previous government. The damage has been immense. They do not have the money for these schemes. TfL provide funding because it is a way for the Mayor to get their transport strategy implemented at a local level and in a reasonably consistent manner across the capital. The Mayor has the obligation and powers to draw up and implement a transport strategy. By directing funding against a set of criteria that are compatible with the strategy this prevents local authorities of whatever political complexion from ignoring the Mayor's strategy. There is already a vast variation in how specific local authorities approach traffic and transport matters - some outer boroughs are very car centric and have removed bus lanes in the past. Other boroughs are very pro public transport but may neglected other modes. Clearly the Mayor's strategy changes with the Mayor so we had one approach under Ken [1], a rather different one under Boris [2] and a different one again under Sadiq [3]. [1] very pro-bus, lots of bus priority, removal of space for cars, limited funding for cycling [2] cancellation of TfL bus priority schemes, emphasis on cycle superhighways, "smoothing traffic" [3] some bus priority restored but neutral about buses, "healthy streets", low speed limits, reduction in traffic accidents / public transport deaths and injuries Thanks for explaining
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Post by LT 20181 on Apr 11, 2019 10:06:31 GMT
I see this morning that the 72s are all running through, as is the 419. The 33 is being cut short at Castlenau like the 209, however a couple 209s do seem to be diverting around; unlike last night when the 33 was going through and 209 all cut short. 485s too appear to be cut to Castlenau.
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Post by snoggle on Apr 11, 2019 14:10:12 GMT
Interesting tweet from London Travelwatch showing volumes of bus movements by route / day over Hammersmith Bridge.
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Post by thelondonthing on Apr 11, 2019 21:02:05 GMT
Zac Goldsmith, MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston, has written to residents this evening about the closure - and he places all of the blame entirely on Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
I don't have a link to share (I received his message as an email), but I will just share a couple of relevant chunks here. The most d*mning (<< lol at the overzealous 'swear' filter!) section is this one:
That last sentence seems particularly important. Given that H&F seems to be pointing fingers at everyone else, it's certainly interesting that - at least according to Goldsmith - other stakeholders, including TfL, have apparently attempted to engage with H&F to discuss the bridge without any success.
Goldsmith's email also included a quote from TfL:
It seems to me that TfL isn't prepared to cough up any extra cash - "support in identifying the necessary funding" sounds like it's been carefully worded to avoid giving any impression that TfL will actually hand over any more money to help fix what it refers to quite bluntly as "their bridge".
For now, the existing bus diversions and curtailments will continue, but it seems there's no broader strategy to deal with this situation over a longer term. Goldsmith acknowledged that "both the timescale for repairs and a transport plan outlining alternative routes remain unclear".
One other thing: he also said that he was "especially worried that hundreds of people were allowed to watch the boat race on this bridge last weekend, when it was presumably known to be unsafe", which seems like quite a bold allegation to make.
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Post by Mokujin on Apr 11, 2019 21:18:45 GMT
It appears that route 609 will no longer run.
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Post by COBO on Apr 11, 2019 21:24:27 GMT
It appears that route 609 will no longer run. How will the kids in Hammersmith get to school now? I wonder how this will effect the 609s contract. Will Metroline and maybe Go Ahead (you never know how long Hammersmith Bridge will be shut) be compensated?
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Post by Nathan on Apr 11, 2019 21:26:11 GMT
It appears that route 609 will no longer run. How will the kids in Hammersmith get to school now? I wonder how this will effect the 609s contract. It's the Easter Break, it's fine. For now at least.
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Post by COBO on Apr 11, 2019 21:27:29 GMT
How will the kids in Hammersmith get to school now? I wonder how this will effect the 609s contract. It's the Easter Break, it's fine. For now at least. Yes It’s Easter break but what happens after Easter break?
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Post by Nathan on Apr 11, 2019 21:28:21 GMT
It's the Easter Break, it's fine. For now at least. Yes It’s Easter break but what happens after Easter break? 🤷🏾♂️
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Post by vjaska on Apr 11, 2019 21:52:45 GMT
It appears that route 609 will no longer run. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is one of TfL’s errors here in that because it’s Easter, it’s obviously won’t run being a school route. The telling point would be the week with Easter Monday in.
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Post by LT 20181 on Apr 11, 2019 22:06:55 GMT
It's the Easter Break, it's fine. For now at least. Yes It’s Easter break but what happens after Easter break? Panic.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2019 0:10:49 GMT
Well this could go very badly indeed for HF Council. Weekly inspections. So, when was last inspection before the crack was found. If said crack that bad, then they are essentially saying between last check and most recent check, the Bridge could have faltered. If it is that bad, why weren’t the checks made daily.
Anyway, I find this extremely cynical and potentially a move to pressure TfL in supplying more money.
And anyway again, the Bridge is clearly finished now for many months. Alternative plans need to be made and routes changed, I think a bus route should be terminating at the northern end to assist elderly and disabled people cross the bridge.
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Post by george on Apr 12, 2019 0:13:39 GMT
Well this could go very badly indeed for HF Council. Weekly inspections. So, when was last inspection before the crack was found. If said crack that bad, then they are essentially saying between last check and most recent check, the Bridge could have faltered. If it is that bad, why weren’t the checks made daily. Anyway, I find this extremely cynical and potentially a move to pressure TfL in supplying more money. And anyway again, the Bridge is clearly finished now for many months. Alternative plans need to be made and routes changed, I think a bus route should be terminating at the northern end to assist elderly and disabled people cross the bridge. The 72 assists with that and probaly one of the reasons why it goes via Chiswick bridge instead of putney.
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Post by snowman on Apr 12, 2019 6:06:22 GMT
TfL have now added a page to their website, and apparently the 609 is now withdrawn tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/hammersmith-bridge-closure?intcmp=58277Routes 33, 209 and 485 Now terminate on Castelnau, south of the river and no longer serve Hammersmith bus station Route 72 Diverted over Chiswick Bridge Route 419 Now terminates on Lonsdale Road, south of the river and no longer serves Hammersmith bus station Route 609 Service withdrawn Bus alternatives Route 265 connects with East Putney and Putney Bridge stations for the District line. Buses will continue to run across Chiswick Bridge and Putney Bridge as normal
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