A ferry service is set to be put in place to help people cross the River Thames following the closure of a west London bridge.
Dana Skelley, of the Government’s Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce group, described the ferry as the “preferred” short-term transport solution and said “we are working quickly to have a service in place by early next year”.
Cracks in the pedestals led to motor vehicles being prohibited from using the 133-year-old cast iron bridge in April 2019.
On August 13, Hammersmith and Fulham Council said a heatwave caused the faults to “significantly increase”, leading it to close the crossing to all users and ban vessels from sailing underneath it.
Other potential solutions for frustrated residents, including a temporary bridge, “remain under consideration”, according to Ms Skelley.
An enhanced local bus service has been put on by Transport for London to try to help travellers.
Norman Fleck, a Cambridge professor and mechanics and materials expert, is to join next week’s taskforce meetings.
Ms Skelley said: “Work will now continue to urgently progress the temporary transport plans, and other work related to the bridge and river closure, with the taskforce due to reconvene next week where funding options will be discussed.”
