Under temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in London on July 18, the Hammersmith Bridge spanning the River Thames was wrapped in reflective foil to prevent the expansion of cracks threatening the structure.
A section of Hammersmith Bridge wrapped in foil. (Photo: Megan Specia)
The Victorian suspension bridge, built in 1887, is currently closed. Aside from pedestrians and cyclists, other vehicles are not permitted to cross the bridge. However, the high temperatures due to the heatwave have raised concerns among London authorities that small cracks in the cast iron bridge’s base could widen, compromising the bridge’s stability.
The authorities closed Hammersmith Bridge in August 2020, even to boats passing beneath, due to rising temperatures leading to increasingly severe cracks. The bridge reopened to pedestrians, cyclists, and boats below in July of last year. According to the Hammersmith and Fulham Council, the local authority responsible for the 135-year-old bridge, the engineering team is working diligently to ensure the structure remains operational.
Since 2020, a $500,000 temperature control system has been installed to cool the metal and alleviate pressure on the bridge’s base. This system acts like a giant air conditioner at each bridge base. The bridge’s base is anchored to the riverbed and is designed to keep temperatures below 13 degrees Celsius in the summer. If the temperature rises to 18 degrees Celsius, engineers will have to close the bridge, according to the local council. The cast iron material is particularly sensitive to significant temperature fluctuations.
In anticipation of soaring temperatures on July 18 and 19, the engineering team had to run the cooling system overnight and wrap several sections of the bridge above the water with reflective foil to protect the structure from the Sun’s heat. “While coping with extreme heat, we are also seeking various innovative solutions to maintain the temperature within permissible limits,” said Sebastian Springer, project manager for Hammersmith Bridge.
