Summary of work and key facts

Detailed inspections, including a Principal Inspection, hammer tapping, and concrete testing, have revealed critical issues such as cracks, falling concrete, chloride contamination, and carbonation.

A comprehensive inspection report published in July 2025 provided a range of options for Redbridge Cabinet to consider. The preferred option was for soil reinforced approach wall ramps and a new single span bridge over the Central Line.

The Council continues to work closely with stakeholders, including Transport for London, Emergency Services, neighbouring boroughs and is consistently lobbying the Department for Transport for the essential funding needed to address this critical infrastructure challenge. The Infrastructure Fund provides the opportunity to fund the repairs for the bridge needed to develop the wider area and introduce growth to the North East of London.

The Council is undertaking quarterly inspections to monitor the bridge as per the management of sub-standard bridges process.

Key facts

• £25m works cost for the preferred option. Additional unknown costs relating to utility provision and diversions and TfL Central Line closure and rail replacement services.
• Approximately 15000 vehicles are being affected daily, either not making the journeys or being stuck in diversionary traffic, severely impacting upon the economy.
• We do not know how long the bridge has left to stand, the Council is undertaking quarterly inspections of the bridge.
• Should the bridge collapse, this will impact hundreds of thousands of journeys on the Central Line that the entire North East of London need to get into and out of London.
• There is critical utility infrastructure that runs through the bridge which may leave residents without power, broadband, and gas.
• Redbridge is the 4th lowest funded London borough, and the 11th most deprived, self-funding the bridge will mean reducing funding on other critical services its residents are most in need of.
• Emergency services are facing lengthy diversions, impacting emergency response times due to the closure of the bridge.