Waterlink Way bridge replacement work delayed
Work to replace a bridge on the Waterlink Way cycle route in has been delayed due to the discovery of an unmarked Thames Water pipe.
The route runs between Greenwich to Kent House and New Addington and forms National Route 21. The project was supposed to run between February and April 2026.
Lewisham Council state “As works progressed, we discovered water mains pipes that weren’t shown on the plans we’d been given by Thames Water. This means we need to wait for Thames Water to approve our revised approach so the bridge can be installed safely.”
The bridge in question sits south of Catford station.
No new date has been given as the authority wait for Thames Water:
“Thames Water need to give approval for works to proceed in proximity to their water main. An estimated completion date cannot be given at the moment as it is dependent on Thames Water.
“In the meantime work is proceeding on the east-side abutment for the bridge and the crane mat for the bridge installation.”
Bridge replacement has been a long time coming. Back in 2022/23 a council report noted: “Funding not provided in 2022/23 due to programme constraints however is included for 2023/24”. After two more years eventually work was supposed be undertaken in the 2025/26 financial year before the latest problem arose.
They’d better get it sorted soon because it’s taking forever and is a route I take all the time, it’s extremely handy and far, far more pleasant than waking along Catford Hill.