Camberwell Grove Bridge is set to reopen to vehicle traffic in 2018, after a year of uncertainty for local residents who faced increased traffic and air pollution.
The bridge was closed to all but pedestrians and cyclists in 2016, after a steal beam cracked inside it.
In a public consultation answered by 1,888 locals, 73 per cent called for it to reopen.
Though the bridge will return to normal, councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for environment and public realm, said the reopening could still be months away.
“We still don’t have a confirmed date from Network Rail [for the repair to be carried out],” Cllr Wingfield said. “It would be in February or March. There’s not going to be an immediate reopening, it’s not in the council’s power.”
The repairs will cost the council £17,000 and will make the bridge strong enough to carry three tonnes, enough for cars and vans, but not HGVs.
The consultation also showed support for a wider study to be carried out into the road network of surrounding streets.
Cllr Wingfield added: “Putting the bridge to one side, everyone says we need a study. These are old Victorian streets dealing with a lot of traffic, and that presents problems in a residential area.
“The way forward is for a Quiet Way [cycle path] to run down the Grove, and that would come with other road improvements such as new lights and new painted lines.
“We’re hoping for something similar to Dulwich, where there were concerns with the junctions in the village, but we got TfL on board to fund improvements in the area.”
Lloyd Anderson and Rebecca Kong (pictured above), both Lyndhurst Grove residents, previously told the News that the bridge closure had caused a huge surge in traffic in narrow roads in the west of Peckham, with “almost daily” altercations between competing drivers. Private research by local resident Alastair Roots, using the council’s data and his own recordings, found traffic levels (vehicles per day) increased by 96 per cent in Chadwick Road and 78 per cent in Lyndhurst Grove.
‘Steal beam’. Lol…