Footbridge over the railway at Strand on the Green shut suddenly for emergency repairs

Brooks Lane footbridge cordoned off; photograph Rhian Williams

Engineers find severe structural faults

Network Rail have shut the Brooks Lane footbridge over the railway between Strand on the Green Junior School and Chiswick Village for emergency repair work.

The closure took local residents by surprise and several Chiswick Calendar readers have written to us expressing their indignation that there was no notice given.

Today we found out why. When engineers carried out a routine inspection on Sunday, they identified several structural faults in the timber beams that support the bridge span.

“We are very sorry to residents living in Chiswick”, said a Network Rail spokesperson.

“Unfortunately, for everyone’s safety, we had to close the footbridge immediately. We are working quickly to ensure the bridge can be reopened as soon as possible.

“Later today, engineers will return to the site to survey the works required. Following this, repair work will be carried out next week during the night-time hours, when trains are not operating, to minimise disruption”.

They are hoping to complete the work to reopen the footbridge on Friday 22 August.

Network Rail are also repairing the footbridge over the railway at Chiswick Station and are carrying out work on Barnes Railway Bridge, which will mean the closure of the Hounslow Loop line which services Chiswick and Kew Bridge stations between 23 and 31 August.

READ ALSO: No trains through Chiswick Station 23-31 August, footbridge closed until 15 September

READ ALSO: Noise from work on Chiswick Station footbridge keeps Grove Park neighbours awake

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