Accident at Kew Bridge

[tonyroome]

There was a brief comment on the traffic news last night about the closure of Kew Bridge due to a barge striking the bridge. Never mentioned again - anyone know what happened? Is all now well?

 

[byron]

Probably only a temporary thing. Bridge gets hit, patrol boat goes to make sure it isn't missing an arch, bridge re-opens.

 

[tonyroome]

Yeah - I had assumed the same. Now I hear it was a 95 ton Dutch barge! Think they may mean 95 feet..... but its apparently OK and no structural damage to the bridge according to TfL.

How do you not notice Kew Bridge?

 

[TrueBlue]

I'm sure he noticed it, but such vessels are large, long, heavy and ponderous as well as being underpowered.

I guess he misjudged the flow - can get quite nasty underneath the arches.

The non tidal bit was mostly on Red Strong Stream yesterday (well my patch was) so that means a helluva lot of water coming down to the Tideway and if the tide was flowing the current must have been 6 knots or more?

Just thought I'd make a point as most folks don't venture out in the winter, and I've noticed a lot of comments about water levels and streams on this wonderful new forum recently...

 

[tonyroome]

Does indeed get tricky - I'm based in London so am pretty much used to it - but its still occasionally surprising - particularly when something appears unexpectedly . Nice out at the weekend, the current wasn't that bad in fact. I think the width of the river on the tidal section is so much greater that you don't notice it as much. Be nice to get out this weekend as well - but that'll depend on whether I can get enough of the tube worms off the boat and outdrive to actually move anywhere!