One week on from the start of works on Putney Bridge and some Londoners are seeing the closure as a benefit rather than a hardship.
Malik Dawood, of Putney Bridge Food and Wine, has noted the benefits of the works on his business. He said: “We're very busy now with people crossing the bridge. Much busier than before.”
And even some bus passengers are saying being forced to change buses by walking across the bridge has not been a problem.
Shane Pope, who commutes to Victoria from Putney Heath daily says that having to change buses on the other side of the river has been much easier than he had expected.
The 70-year-old said: “As much as I like to complain, there's actually very little to complain about. I expected it to be more of a problem, but particularly with the weather like it is, it's been nice to cross the river every day. We'll have to wait and see what it’s like come October.”
But Mr Pope, who works in the restaurant business, added for some of his staff it has been less positive, with many of them noting problems with the night buses when getting home after a late shift.
On the south side of the river shopkeepers are not pleased with the works. Abbasi Waqar of Super Save on Putney High Street has noticed a significant downturn in trade since the works started.
He said: “We used to be busy all the time, but since the works started its much quieter. People go somewhere else to do their shopping.”
The three-month repair work began on July 14. Motorists are also having to contend with the six-week closure of the Hogarth roundabout which began on July 19.
But there was some good news as TfL announced it was no longer closing one lane of the Hammersmith Flyover at weekends.
