Waterloo Bridge in its current form has been conveniently connecting the Southbank and the Strand since it set up shop in 1945. Nicknamed the ‘Ladies’ Bridge’ due to the fact that a great deal of its construction was completed by women during World War II, the oh-so busy bridge is traversed by thousands of cars, commuters, buses, bikes each and every day. But according to a council funding document obtained by Bloomberg, the bridge could soon be forced to close.
Bloomberg managed to get their hands on the document from Westminster City Council following a Freedom of Information request. A recent inspection reportedly found water damage on the bridge alongside cracks measuring up to 2mm, and the local council is now asking for £6 million to get the necessary repair work done to the bridge.
Bloomberg reported that Waterloo Bridge could be forced to close if the urgent repairs aren’t carried out by the end of the 2029/2030 financial year. The bridge could also join the likes of Hammersmith Bridge, Albert Bridge, and Vauxhall Bridge in having to be subjected to weight restrictions or closures.
The government under the former Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, announced a £1 billion Structures Fund earlier this year. The fund was created to help council across the capital deal with ageing bridges and infrastructure. Specific funding allocations are expected to be dished out later in 2026 and Westminster City Council is hoping to secure a portion of that fund to help with the issues on Waterloo Bridge.
