Albert Bridge reopens to pedestrians and cyclists

The Albert Bridge, which has stood for 153 years connecting Chelsea and Battersea over the River Thames, has now reopened for use by pedestrians and cyclists following a thorough inspection by engineers. The bridge had been closed to foot and bike traffic earlier in April after monitoring sensors detected minor shifts in its structure.

Kensington and Chelsea Council took the precautionary step to close the bridge on the 8th of April when the sensors indicated “small changes” in movement on this Grade II listed landmark. Andrew Burton, the council’s director of highways and regulatory services, explained that the closure was essential in order to monitor the bridge’s behavior closely and to make sure these movements did not pose a danger to users.

Burton emphasized the council’s commitment to safety and preservation of the bridge, stating, “Our top priority is safety and protecting the bridge for the future, so it’s important that we act when our sensors pick up any change.” After further assessment, the council confirmed that the recent movements do not increase any risk, allowing the bridge to be reopened to the public.

To address the situation more permanently, a temporary support is set to be installed by April 17 to reinforce a weakened section of the bridge, helping to minimize the chances of future closures. The council noted that external factors such as temperature fluctuations—specifically the 25 degrees Celsius recorded on the day of the movement—are likely contributors to the bridge’s behavior. While these temperature-induced changes are not inherently alarming, ongoing monitoring will continue because of a known crack in a component. The full repair work on the bridge is expected to span about a year

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