Troubled Temple Bridge finally set for works after frustrating two-year closure

A date has been set for the long-awaited works on Temple Footbridge which has been closed since 2023 causing ‘major problems' for people using the route.

The Environment Agency, which is responsible for the work, has put up a river closure notice saying the Thames at the footbridge will be closed to river traffic from 8am on Wednesday, September 10 to 5pm on Wednesday, October 8.

This is to allow for the removal of the central span of the footbridge – something which has long been under discussion.

Temple Bridge straddles the Thames between Marlow and Hurley. It allows pedestrians to cross the Thames just upstream of Temple Lock, near Marlow, and forms part of the Thames Path.

It opened in 1989 and is only about 36 years old – but an inspection in 2023 found the condition of the bridge's deck boards was deteriorating ‘faster than expected.’

As a result, the Environment Agency closed Temple Bridge for safety reasons in May that year ‘until further notice’.

This indefinite closure has remained in place while controversy and frustration has increased.

In August 2024, there were calls to speed up the repairs and re-open the bridge from parish councillors, community groups and Maidenhead's MP.

This is because of the usefulness of the link and lack of good alternatives. Councillors said it was being used ‘continually’ as a link and the diversion was ‘unsuitable.’

Currently walkers on the Thames Path are diverted along Temple Lane to cross over the River Thames at Marlow Bridge – a ‘very slow’ four-mile diversion route.

This diversion has also been called 'very unsafe' as the lane is 'very narrow' and has a 60mph speed limit with no footpath.

Because of this frustration, the Environment Agency came under fire for its lack of communication in multiple council meetings – and delays in getting things done.

One barrier to getting on with the repairs has been money, as well as more problems being uncovered during inspections.

There is rot and both sides of the bridge – though it is the central section that is of greatest concern.

Money for its removal is estimated to cost between £200,000 and £300,000.

This came from a £500,000 investment from DEFRA which is being split equally between Temple Bridge and Marsh Lock Horsebridge in Henley.

What next?

As for what will replace the removed section, the complete scope of the bridge project is not yet completely defined, the agency has said.

Though there is no doubt the bridge will need a major refurbishment, it is unknown whether it will be more cost-effective to replace the rotten sections or install a new bridge.

EA experts previously said a replacement was likely to cost ‘millions’ rather than hundreds of thousands, perhaps about £2.5million.

It is unclear so far what a new bridge would look like or ‘how [the EA] would go about installing that’, said Peter Collins, an EA operations manager in the Thames area in May.

Either way, it would be ‘ambitious’ to expect the team to be working on it as early as next year.

Responding to the Advertiser this week, an Environment Agency spokesperson said the exact timescales for the complete works is not yet known.

This project will, however, ‘aim to be accelerated’ with the use of a partnership funding model that is being developed for Marsh and Temple.

The bridge will not be re-opened after this initial phase, as the central section will have been removed.

“We understand the frustration felt by our customers relating to the temporary closure of Temple footbridge,” the spokesperson said.

“Our project team continues to respond to customers enquiries and updates our gov.uk page when new information is available.”