The cost of repairing a bridge which has been shut for two years could cost £30million more than originally estimated, Redbridge Council says.
Broadmead Road Bridge, in Woodford, was closed to drivers in July 2023 after “significant structural defects” were identified.
The town hall initially estimated it would cost £50m to restore the bridge, but a recently published report reveals it could cost up to £80m for a full rebuild, which is now the recommended option.
No timeline for reopening the bridge has been presented and top councillors have repeatedly said the council cannot foot the £50m bill.
It will need to be paid for entirely by external funding, the council says.
In the 224-page report, officers said: “Early projections suggest costs could be approximately £80m, reflecting the complexity of works, design, utility diversions and replacements, Central line closures and rail replacement services.
“At a time when Redbridge is trying to build new housing, support older people finding the right care support and ensure every neighbourhood is safe and clean, [the] long-standing financial pressures plus the high prevailing costs of borrowing may well mean a self-funded solution proves unviable.”
The entirety of Broadmead Road Bridge will need to be demolished, the report says.
In its place, a new single-span bridge will be built over the Central line, with reinforced, soil-wall approaches. The council estimates it will extend the life of the entire structure by 120 years.
Since the bridge was closed, contractors have been carrying out inspections of the concrete and spaces underneath.
At a cabinet meeting on July 17, Councillor Kam Rai, leader of the Labour-run authority, said he “knew residents were frustrated about the time it has taken” to produce the report.
He said, despite the apparent slow progress over two years, there had not been a “lull” and work had been “painstaking”.
He added that logistical limitations with the London Underground meant workers had around an hour each evening to carry out their inspections.
The council will continue to lobby central government for the money it needs, cabinet member Jo Blackman said.
The councillor said the issue had been raised with transport secretary Heidi Alexander by Labour MPs Wes Streeting, Calvin Bailey, and former council leader Jas Athwal.
There will be “high demand” for a share in a recently announced £1bn infrastructure fund, she added, but said it was “really encouraging” the Department for Transport was “hearing from a lot of us already”.
Councillor Paul Canal, leader of the Redbridge Conservatives, said: “Broadmead Bridge isn’t a luxury – it’s a vital lifeline for residents and local businesses.
“It’s taken the council two years to admit what we knew all along – the bridge needs replacing – and yet they’ve still secured no funding. That’s not just incompetence; it’s a complete dereliction of duty."
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