Albert Bridge shut to drivers for week of repairs

Albert Bridge will be closed from 07:00 BST on 27 May until 06:00 BST on 2 June

Albert Bridge in Chelsea will be closed to vehicles for a week to allow the council to carry out essential maintenance.

A diversion will be in place - via either Chelsea or Battersea Bridge - from 07:00 BST on 27 May to 06:00 BST on 2 June.

Kensington and Chelsea Council said the work is taking place during summer half term to minimise the impact on drivers.

Repairs to the bridge deck, street lighting and expansion joints will be done while pavement repairs will be done in stages so that one footway will be open to pedestrians at all times. Cyclists can cross if they dismount.

The bridge was described by the council as "both a landmark of the London skyline and a vital crossing point"

The bridge deck is made up of 715 individual panels fixed to the timber section.

The panels deteriorate with the weather, and traffic can affect the surface of the carriageway and allow water into the timber sections.

About 10% of the deck is said to be deteriorating and will be replaced.

Rubber, placed between the joints to prevent water reaching the bearing beneath the bridge, will also be replaced.

The repairs taking place will allow the bridge to expand and contract with temperature changes

Johnny Thalassites, from the council, said: "Keeping an iconic listed bridge operational does take regular maintenance.

"We have to be responsible stewards of Albert Bridge which is both a landmark of the London skyline and a vital crossing point."

He added that he was grateful for drivers being patient with the "short-term inconvenience".

Albert Bridge is said to be "one of the most romantic bridges in London"

In January 2024, the council began to enforce a three-tonne weight restriction for goods vehicles in order to protect the structure, with fines for vehicles breaching the weight limit.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service found the council made just over £630,000 by fining drivers breaking the restriction.