East London town split in two as bridge closed for over a year leaves elderly stranded at home

“It’s terrible for me,” Lorenzo Coppola, 89, as he glanced out onto an empty street from his doorstep. “I’ve lost my independence as it’s now so hard to get around.

Cars used to speed past his home in Broadmead Road, Woodford which is one of the most important east-west roads in the area. But since Broadmead Road Bridge was shut more than a year ago his street began to resemble more of a cul-de-sac.

It was shut in July 2023 when it emerged cracked concrete was falling onto the Central line tracks below and the structure's metal reinforcements had corroded.

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A dispute over the repair bill which is estimated to be £50million has left the East London town effectively carved in two, with residents forced to take a lengthy diversion via the North Circular Road to reach the opposite side by car. Elderly residents who relied upon the 275 bus service have in particular borne the brunt of the closure.

Mr Coppola told MyLondon: “I can’t go to church anymore. I used to get there by bus to the Castle by myself and take a second bus to church. Now I can’t do anything. Sometimes my family can take me around, but I like to be independent. I used to go out every day, but the only place I’m able to walk to now is the corner shop.”

Redbridge Council did not give an indication of when the bridge would reopen, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), stating the process will involve “extensive construction work and is expected to take a significant amount of time.” Broadmead Road resident Maria Buftea, 39, is trying to move her son to a different school because of how much the diversion adds to her daily commute.

“It now takes one hour to collect my kid from school, when it used to take about 15 minutes,” she said. “We’d be able to walk there in just 10 minutes, I’ve written a letter to the council but he’s just been put on a waiting list.”

Mrs Buftea added the area becomes increasingly congested in the mornings and afternoons due to parents dropping off their children to Woodbridge High School, while the area has generally become less safe at night while no cars are on the bridge. She recalled one particular incident where a man exposed himself to her son while he stood on the pavement outside their family home.

Former council leader Jas Athwal who’s now the Labour MP for Ilford South said the project would cost about £50m Conservative group leader Paul Canal said the council should take out a long-term loan, to avoid the “lifeline” bridge being closed for up to 20 years.

The council has lobbied the government for help with funding, although the Department for Transport previously said it was up to Redbridge to “determine the best course of action to repair and maintain”. Despite residents venting their frustration about the seemingly endless closure, some admitted they had actually grown fond of it. Jean Cross joked: “My daughter loves living in a cul-de-sac, it’s so quiet here.”

Redbridge Council told MyLondon it understands the anger of affected residents, but says "unfair funding" means trying to rebuild the bridge without extra government supports is extremely challenging.

A spokesperson said: "We are fully aware of the inconvenience and frustration that the closure of Broadmead Road Bridge has caused for our local community. However, the safety of people in Redbridge is paramount. Therefore, the bridge had to be closed while experts assessed it to provide information on its structural integrity.

"The bridge has come to the end of its life, much like we've seen with Hammersmith Bridge in West London, which has also seen similar structural defects appear over the years. The similarities with Hammersmith Bridge don't end there.

"Despite these significant financial challenges, we have been busy working on the surveys and will install barriers and signage in the coming weeks to improve safety on the bridge and its overall appearance. This will enable cyclists and motorcyclists to use the bridge, ensuring pedestrians can continue using the footpath free from obstruction."

The East London council is continuing its efforts to receive additional funding from the Department for Transport and Transport for London.

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