Residents living near the closed Albert Bridge in West London report that journeys are taking up to twice as long, with residential roads gridlocked for extended periods. The bridge has been shut to traffic since February 2026 after a crack was found in one of its cast iron abutments, and it may remain closed until 2027 while repairs costing up to £8.5 million are carried out.
Open letter signed by over 1,100 residents
An open letter, signed by more than 1,100 people from Chelsea and Battersea, has been sent to Kensington and Chelsea Council, Wandsworth Council, the Mayor of London, and Transport for London. The letter calls for stakeholders to work together to get the bridge fixed and reopened as soon as possible.
The letter states: "The closure has fundamentally affected daily life across Chelsea and Battersea, not to mention surrounding areas. Journeys that once took minutes now take 40-50% longer." It adds that "residential roads are gridlocked for extended periods throughout the day," with parents spending substantially more time on school runs and buses delayed and increasingly unreliable.
Impact on businesses and emergency services
The letter also highlights the effect on local businesses, which face reduced accessibility, and on emergency services, which encounter greater congestion. It describes the situation as "no longer an inconvenience" but "a significant quality-of-life issue affecting families, businesses, schools and communities on both sides of the river."
The bridge is owned by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The council has confirmed it submitted a bid for part-funding from Transport for London and the Department for Transport. However, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has refused to share the cost of repairs with the borough.
Mayor and council respond
Speaking at City Hall, Khan said: "The responsibility for renewing and funding upgrades to Albert Bridge sits with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea as the bridge owner. Transport for London and I will continue to support the borough as far as possible."
Councillor Josh Rendall, Lead Member for Transport on Kensington and Chelsea Council, said: "Major repairs on an important structure like Albert Bridge will inevitably cause disruption. As a local resident myself, I’ve felt the impact of the closure and understand people’s frustration." He added that the bridge is over 150 years old, predates motor vehicles, and was opened when Queen Victoria was on the throne, and that "a repair like this cannot be hurried – it must be done with the utmost care, consideration and with safety as the primary focus."
Rendall said he is in close contact with campaign groups and is pressing Transport for London to review traffic signals and arrangements. He thanked campaign groups and those affected for their patience while the bridge is restored. Wandsworth Council, the Mayor of London, and Transport for London did not respond to a request for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
