FOI request detail

This case originated outside of a webform submission and does not have a summary

Request ID: FOI-2582-2021
Date published: 14 April 2021

You asked

Please send me: 1. The number of times Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge have been checked per year in the last three years (2018,2019 and 2020) to see if they were substandard, i.e. unable to carry the heaviest vehicles now seen on our roads. 2. The number of times Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge have been classed as ‘sub-standard’ in each of the last three years (2018,2019 and 2020) 3. The number of planned renovations, and the expected completion date for each piece of renovation work, that Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge are currently subject to.

We answered

Our Ref: FOI-2582-2021 Thank you for your request asking for information about Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, and Westminster Bridge. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require. You asked: 1. The number of times Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge have been checked per year in the last three years (2018, 2019 and 2020) to see if they were substandard, i.e. unable to carry the heaviest vehicles now seen on our roads. Structural Condition Surveys take place on Transport for London structures every two to four years. This means that two of the bridges listed are due for surveys this year, their prior surveys were before 2018. Bridge Date of last condition inspection Planned if already scheduled Battersea March 2020 Lambeth August 2017 Planned for 2021-22 Vauxhall Jan-Feb 2021 Westminster August 2017 Planned for 2021-22 There is more information on how we maintain our bridges in a previously published FOI request: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-0156-1920 2. The number of times Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge have been classed as ‘sub-standard’ in each of the last three years (2018, 2019 and 2020) A sub-standard bridge is defined as being "not suitable to carry all categories of ‘Construction & Use’* vehicles, which includes lorries of up to 44 tons". Two of the structures above have weight and / or speed restrictions in place, to maintain safe operation: . Battersea Bridge has restrictions in place of 30 mph and width restriction of 7 metres . Vauxhall Bridge is currently restricted to Construction and Use vehicles only (up to 44 tonnes) with no abnormal loads allowed *The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations (1986) defines the types and articulation of vehicles which are legally allowed to travel on UK roads without the need to notify an abnormal load (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1986/1078/made). 3. The number of planned renovations, and the expected completion date for each piece of renovation work, that Battersea Road Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge and Westminster Bridge are currently subject to. . Battersea Bridge and Lambeth Bridge o No planned works . Westminster Bridge o Special Inspection involving non-destructive testing to and around the whole structure is planned in April-June 2021, to determine repair/strengthening works to vessel struck Span 2 of the bridge. o Detailed load assessment of the bridge to current standards based on outcomes of the special inspection is planned to complete by March 2022. . Both Vauxhall Bridge and Lambeth Bridge are identified in our future investment plans under our Major Asset Renewals Programme. We are not able to confirm the exact timing of that investment as it will be dependent on TfL’s wider funding situation that is still under discussion. If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me. If you are considering submitting a further FOI request please think carefully about whether the request is essential at this current time, as answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. Where requests are made, please note that our response time may be impacted by the current situation. 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 [email protected]

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