Work is set to resume on a major project to refurbish a key Thames crossing into the City of London.
The first stage of a £15 million revamp of Blackfriars Bridge was completed in 2023, but work was delayed due to river navigation issues linked to the nearby Tideway super sewer project.
Now, City Bridge Foundation, the ancient charity which looks after the bridge at no cost to the taxpayer, is seeking a contractor to complete the project, due to be appointed this autumn.
The work will see the bridge’s more than 2,000 cast iron balusters painstakingly repaired, renovated and in some cases replaced, alongside a complete paint job restoring its Victorian splendour.
Paul Martinelli, City Bridge Foundation chair, said: “The work we completed two years ago has begun to restore the structure to its former glory.
“Unfortunately, our contractor was not able to obtain permission for the navigational closures required to complete the project, so we had no choice but to leave the project unfinished.
“With the neighbouring Tideway work due to finish in the autumn, we’re now in a position where we can go out to tender for a contractor to complete the project.
“The bridge refurbishment, which is being carried out at no cost to the taxpayer, will not only improve its appearance, but also protect the structure of the bridge and extend its lifespan.”
Two spans need to be left open to allow river traffic to pass under the bridge, while spans one and five – the northern and southernmost spans respectively – are not suitable for larger vessels.
More details of the work are available in the tender documents at https://cityoflondon.ukp.app.jaggaer.com/
Blackfriars Bridge through the ages
– The original Blackfriars Bridge was the third Thames crossing to open in London after London and Westminster bridges
– It was originally known as the William Pitt Bridge after the former Prime Minister Pitt the Elder, but soon became generally known by its current name, taken from the mediaeval monastery which once stood nearby
– Built in Italianate style in Portland stone, it opened in 1769 but was dismantled less than a century later, after suffering erosion to the stonework
– The present Blackfriars Bridge, designed by Joseph Cubitt, features stone pillars built like pulpits between the arches, to commemorate the area’s monastic past
– The bridge has five spans, is 923ft (281m) long and 105ft (32m) wide
– The bridge was opened by Queen Victoria on November 6, 1869, the same day the monarch opened the nearby Holborn Viaduct, which shares its red, white and gold colour scheme, and visited the newly opened Smithfield Market
– The bridge piers feature stone carvings of birds designed by sculptor John Birnie Philip, with freshwater birds depicted on the upstream and seawater birds on the downstream side of the bridge
