A Walk Over Wandsworth Bridge – 25th July 2023
This article on the BBC is entitled Wandsworth Bridge Closes For 10 Weeks Of Repairs.
This is the sub-heading.
A 10-week closure of Wandsworth Bridge for “essential safety repairs” has begun, Wandsworth Council says.
These are the first three paragraphs.
The authority added that the work was needed “to safeguard the long-term future of this key river crossing”.
Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers that bus services which use Wandsworth Bridge will be diverted or stop short of normal destinations.
It added that the bridge would remain open for pedestrians, while cyclists can cross if they dismount.
So I went to have a look, starting at Wandsworth Town station.
It is a station, that needs a single lift and perhaps a small amount of refurbishment.
I walked from the station and over Wandsworth Bridge and along Wandsworth Bridge Road.
Note.
- There were several restaurants and cafes.
- It was a level walk.
- It looks like the Council was taking the chance to resurface the bridge.
- Along Wandsworth Bridge Road, drivers were not keeping to the 20 mph speed limit.
Some cyclists were still cycling on the bridge.
Il Pagliaccio Restaurant
I had lunch in the Il Pagliaccio Restaurant.
It was a typical friendly Italian restaurant, that served gluten-free food.
Wandsworth Town Station To Go Step-Free
This document on the Government web site is entitled Access for All: 73 Stations Set To Benefit From Additional Funding.
Wandsworth Town station is on the list.
These pictures show the station.
The station would appear to need three Subway-to-Platform lifts.
I would feel that after seeing two similar lifts installed at Finsbury Park station recently, this can be done without too much disruption.
After Harry’s comments to this post, I went back to the station and took these pictures of Platform 1 and the outside of the station.
This Google Map shows Platform 1.
Installation of a lift would appear to be tricky.
- Platform 1 is not wide enough for a lift tower.
- To the left of the station entrance, there is a garden with a tree, which limits the space.
The best place is probably hard against the wall to the right of the station entrance, where the phone box is now!
- The platform entrance could be through a hole in the wall along the side of the platform
- The ground floor entrance could be inside the station entrance if this is feasible.
- If not, why not put it outside?
If the outside position were to be used on the ground floor, touch-in could be provided outside or even in the lift.
The Anonymous Widower 