Hammersmith Bridge

The $270 million battle to save an iconic London bridge from falling into the River Thames

Is it any wonder that London bridges 1) ___ (FALL) down? For hundreds of years, they 2) ___ (WORK) tirelessly to carry the load of one of the world's busiest cities.

But many of the 35 bridges that span the Thames originally 3) ___ (BUILD) to carry horse and cart, and the strain of modern-day traffic is taking its toll. The magnificent Hammersmith Bridge is a case in point. It could have crumbled into the Thames below if it urgently 4) __ (NOT SHUT) in April 2019. The bridge is nothing short of a Victorian-era masterpiece. Crafted out of cast iron, it was officially opened in 1887.  For more than 130 years it 5) ___ (WITHSTAND) all that has been thrown at it, but breaking point 6) ___ (COME) after a particularly warm summer saw large cracks worsen.

That, coupled with the weight of 22,000 motor vehicles and 16,000 pedestrians crossing it every day, 7) ___ (BE) too much. It closed, first to traffic and then to pedestrians, 8) ___ (CUT) off thousands of residents who rely on it to go about their everyday lives.

There are no quick 9) ___ (FIX) for the Hammersmith Bridge – the repair cost is estimated at around $270 million, which amounts to the entire annual budget of the local council, and it could take up to six years to reopen.

It is not inconceivable that other bridges could suffer the same fate.Vauxhall Bridge 10) ___ (CLOSE) for months last year when it underwent urgent repairs. London Bridgewas also temporarily shut while undergoing work.Tower Bridge 11) ___ (CAUSE) traffic chaos in August 2020 when its 1,200 bascules — the sections which allow the drawbridge to open — became stuck.

The Hammersmith Bridge 11) ___ (NEED) a great deal of tender loving care. Even rowboats cannot pass beneath it for fear it will collapse.But12) ___ (REPAIR) it is not the only option. Many residents think it simply needs 13) ___ (REPLACE). They believeit's a great opportunity to build a contemporary, modern structure that nods towards the heritage of the original design, noting that cast iron 14) ___ (NOT USE) for construction anymore.

 

(https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-04/battle-on-to-save-hammersmith-bridge-from-collapsing-thames/100039792)

 

ANSWERS: ARE FALLING, HAVE WORKED, WERE BUILT, HAD NOT BEEN SHUT, HAS WITHSTOOD, CAME, WAS, CUTTING, FIXES, WAS CLOSED, CAUSED, NEEDS, REPAIRING, REPLACING, IS NOT USED