Another Emergency Closure for Brooks Lane Footbridge

Safety concerns raised after routine inspection

The footbridge during last year's closure

July 26, 2026

The Brooks Lane footbridge has been closed once more after Network Rail engineers identified serious structural defects during a routine inspection, leaving Chiswick residents facing sudden disruption less than a year after a similar shutdown. The pedestrian bridge, which links Waldeck Road and Brooks Lane across the railway line, was sealed off on Friday 24 July with no advance warning, prompting frustration among commuters, families and local councillors.

The closure comes only months after the bridge was shut for three weeks in 2025 following the discovery of faults in its timber beams. Then, as now, residents complained of poor communication and unclear timelines, with many learning of the closure only when they arrived to find the gates locked.

Network Rail confirmed that engineers closed the bridge immediately after identifying structural issues during preparatory checks for planned maintenance. The organisation said public safety had to take priority, but acknowledged that the lack of notice had caused significant inconvenience.

Chiswick Riverside councillor Rick Rowe contacted both the site manager and Network Rail after residents raised concerns about the sudden closure and the excessive noise from emergency works carried out late into the evening. Jet washing and other noisy activities have now been halted following his intervention.

“Public safety must always come first,” Cllr Rowe said. “If engineers identify a structure that is no longer safe, closing it is absolutely the right decision. What is not acceptable is that residents were left without any meaningful communication. This bridge is an important pedestrian route used every day by people accessing local transport links, commuting to work and travelling across the railway. Residents should not have been left to discover the closure for themselves.”

He added that families living nearby had reported significant disturbance from overnight works, including children whose sleep had been disrupted. “Residents understand that emergency works sometimes can’t be avoided. What they rightly expect is clear communication, regular updates and every effort to minimise disruption.”

Network Rail has said it does not yet know how long the bridge will remain closed. The current works notice runs until 2 September, but this reflects the planned programme for replacing timber treads and refurbishing the structure rather than a confirmed reopening date. Any delay could affect parents bringing children to Strand on the Green Schools, who could face a considerably extended walk.

Cllr Rowe has asked Network Rail to provide timely updates and a clear timetable for repairs once engineers complete their assessment. He said he will continue working with the organisation to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.

The latest closure has revived longstanding frustrations about the bridge’s condition and future. Local residents have previously submitted alternative designs aimed at making the crossing fully accessible, but Network Rail has declined to consider them. A refurbishment proposal in 2023 was rejected at the pre‑planning stage by Hounslow Council because it was not a like‑for‑like replacement, leaving the structure reliant on ageing timber components.

Last summer’s emergency closure followed a similar trajectory: no warning, missed deadlines and confusion over reopening dates. The bridge, which connects Chiswick Village with Strand on the Green, remained shut for weeks after engineers were unable to complete repairs on time.