Hammersmith Bridge - changes in local transport behaviour
Request ID: FOI-0118-2324 Date published: 10 May 2023
You asked
You very kindly sent me this report, in 2019, looking at the changes in traffic resulting from the closure of Hammersmith Bridge to motor vehicles: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/t...
I'm now wondering if you have an update on this. I understand that you may not have exactly the same report, and I understand that with COVID and the resulting changes in behaviour it is hard to directly compare numbers; nevertheless I'm interested in whether you have any combined (or independent reports) which show:
- volume changes on nearby bridges since the 2019 report
- volume changes on key arteries nearby such as Chalkers Corner or the A205
- if bus service data provides any insight into changes into congeestion on these routes I appreciate this may be slightly vague - please let me know if you need it to be more specific!
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0118-2324
Thank you for your request received on 11 April 2023 asking for information about the changes to local traffic resulting from the Hammersmith Bridge closure. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. We do not have a follow up report on the prior 2019 analysis referenced in our previous response: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-1103-1920. The onset of COVID in March 2020 and the following two years provided abnormal conditions for the road network that meant that traffic flows, and bus journey time outcomes could not be compared with the pre and post closure data provided in our previous analysis.. Since 2019, there have been significant changes to the road capacity in inner London, which while not a complete list, include the implementation of cycle super highways and other streets schemes; in October 2021 the delivery of the inner London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and in a similar time frame we have seen the opening of the Elizabeth line, the delivery of borough and TfL Road Network (TLRN) 20 mph zones, and the delivery of low traffic neighbourhoods. All of these changes have interacted to alter traffic flows specifically in inner London and the area either side of Hammersmith Bridge. It would therefore not be possible to provide an updated analysis to disentangle the impact of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge from these other significant changes and this has not been attempted. If this is not the information you are looking for please do not hesitate to contact me. Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
