Why are we doing it?
Albert Bridge was opened in 1873 and except
for Tower Bridge, built in 1894, is the only Thames road bridge in
central London never to have been replaced. It is undoubtedly
one of London’s most attractive bridges. The bridge is a suspension
bridge of cast and wrought iron and steel with timber beams and
deck.
The bridge needs major refurbishment and
strengthening. The beams are rusty and some of the timber has
rotted. Unsightly red and white barriers have been in place helping
to protect the bridge for the last few years. These will be removed
on completion of the work.
If we do not repair the bridge it will
deteriorate further and eventually will be completely unusable.
Following the second world war
conservationists led by Sir John Betjeman successfully campaigned
to save the bridge from demolition. Betjeman described the bridge
as “shining with lights, grey and airy against the London
sky; it is one of the beauties of the London river.”
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