Work On Step-Free Kew Bridge Arch To Begin

TfL in 'final talks' with council and opening date set to be announced

The Arches under Kew Bridge. Picture: Google Streetview

Residents who have been campaigning for an arch under Kew Bridge to be opened up for step-free access to the Thames Path have been told that work on the project should begin shortly.

The work will begin concurrently with the Cycleway 9, which Transport for London (TfL) is due to start work on at the Kew Bridge junction next week.

In announcing the cycleway works, TfL said, "TfL will also open an arch under Kew Bridge to create step-free access to the Thames Path, which will now run under the bridge, rather than over it.

"TfL is in final talks with Hounslow Council on the work needed to make this happen and an announcement on the opening date will be made shortly."

An agreement to approve entering into a lease arrangement with Transport for London (TfL) for the arch was signed off last February, with funding to be provided for within the council's capital budget for improvements along the alignment of Cycleway.

At present people have to climb up a series of steps if they want to cross from Strand on the Green to the other side of Kew Bridge, or else walk to road level and negotiate a series of intimidating crossings. The Strand on the Green Residents' Association (SOGA) has been campaigning for years on the issue.

There are four arches under Kew Bridge, owned by TfL for letting, two of which are leased to the canoe/paddleboarding clubs, another leased commercially, and the fourth, known as Arch 3 is leased by TfL to the St George's, the developers of the residential complex near the bridge. The lease for this arch expired in March 2018 and local people had insisted that it would be appropriate for TfL to release if for use by the community.

Originally TfL had refused saying their intention was to let it out again and were only prepared to allow it to be used as a walkway if this was done on commercial terms.

However the matter has now been resolved and residents are looking forward to step free access in the near future.

December 9, 2019