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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Tom Place

Albert Bridge closed to pedestrians and cyclists after 'slight movement' detected

Albert Bridge has been closed to pedestrians and cyclists, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council has announced.

The 153-year-old Grade II-listed bridge was closed to motor traffic in February 2026, when a routine inspection found that a cast iron component was cracked at one of the bridge abutments.

The new announcement was made on Wednesday “as a precaution following an engineering inspection" when "slight movement" was detected.

Andrew Burton, director of highway and regulatory services, said: "Our contractors are on site but the closure will remain in place while we continue to monitor the bridge's movements over the next 24 hours."

He added the council would update when they know more.

The council has previously said repairs to the bridge, which crosses the River Thames between Chelsea and Battersea, would cost about £8.5 million and that it was hoped they would take a year.

The full repairs will allow the bridge to reopen to motor traffic, and improvements to the road surface and preventative work to protect the bridge for the future will also be done.

Albert Bridge is designed to move slightly to accommodate a change in temperature or traffic, and it was nicknamed "The Trembling Lady" shortly after it opened in 1873.

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