Drivers have been warned of new travel restrictions across one of central London’s busiest river crossings after safety concerns forced action.
Vehicles weighing more than 18 tonnes will be banned from using Vauxhall Bridge from July 1 after inspectors found parts of the structure had deteriorated.
Transport for London explained that the move was needed to protect the bridge and keep it open while long-term repairs are planned.
The 120-year-old bridge carries around 39,500 vehicles every day, making it a key route across the capital, with around 200 heavy vehicles a day now forced to take diversion routes.
However, buses and emergency vehicles will still be allowed to use the crossing and no bus routes are expected to change.
The restrictions come just months after nearby Albert Bridge was closed to motor traffic when cracks were discovered. Hammersmith Bridge has also faced major limitations since 2019 because of structural damage.
TfL said recent inspections showed parts of Vauxhall Bridge had worsened, and the crossing could no longer safely support the same weight as before.
The bridge has already been closed to abnormal loads since 2023, including vehicles weighing more than 44 tonnes, with the new measures aiming to further protect the structure.
The new weight restrictions will come into effect on July 1
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Carl Eddleston, TfL’s Director of Streets and Network Operations, said: “Safety is our top priority, and we know how important Vauxhall Bridge is for people travelling across London.
“This is why we’re taking this precautionary step to introduce a weight restriction to the bridge. While the bridge remains safe, limiting heavier vehicles helps us protect and keep it open while we develop the long-term improvements it needs.”
He added that TfL were sorry for any disruption caused by the restriction, and that the authority would “continue to monitor the area closely, ensuring we keep people updated as this work progresses”.
Heavy Goods Vehicles over 18 tonnes will now be diverted onto alternative routes north and south of the Thames, TfL explained.
Buses and emergency vehicles will still be allowed to use the crossing
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Motoring experts warned that the latest restrictions expose key problems and growing strain on the UK’s ageing infrastructure.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “We have long argued that the condition of road bridges serves as a lead indicator of the highway maintenance problems that have been building up as a result of ageing structures, heavier traffic and environmental pressures.”
He added that ministers now face serious questions over whether enough money is being invested to repair the country’s bridges.
He continued, saying: “Commuters relying on the many bus services that cross Vauxhall Bridge each day might be sighing with relief that their journeys won’t be affected by these restrictions.
The 120-year-old bridge has been deteriorating over the years, prompting the vehicle ban
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“But at Department for Transport headquarters, barely half a mile away, the question must be whether the new Structures Fund will address this growing challenge seen not just in London but country-wide.”
The Government announced the Structures Fund last year as part of a £1billion programme to repair roads, tunnels and bridges across England.
At the time, ministers revealed that around 3,000 bridges across the UK could no longer safely carry the heaviest vehicles.
TfL detailed how the Vauxhall Bridge restrictions will remain in place while engineers develop a long-term repair plan for the historic structure.