Railway bridge work

Work to improve the railway bridge across Old Kent Road will begin on 14 July 2024.

The work will take place over 13 weeks and has been timed to coincide with the school holidays to minimise disruption.

The work includes maintenance, remediation works, painting and a new mural for the railway bridge.

This project has been coordinated with work to install pipes on Ilderton Road as part of the extension of Southwark’s SELCHP District Heat Network (DHN), as well as other work on the TfL road network. This coordinated approach is time and cost efficient. It will reduce the impact of lane and junction closures and it will help to minimise congestion. It will also enable local cycle lane improvements, later this year.

Extending the DHN and improving cycle lanes will bring long term benefits to the neighbourhood, including a cut in carbon emissions, cheaper energy and more opportunity for active travel.

During September and early October, the P12 bus route southbound from South Bermondsey station will be affected by a closure at the junction of Old Kent Road and Ilderton Road.

New artwork

As well as maintenance, the railway bridge will be transformed with a new, bespoke artwork, a mural titled ‘A Home from Home’, which has been produced in conjunction with the local community.

Designed by artist Linda Baritski, the new mural celebrates the cultural diversity of Old Kent Road and identifies places of importance to local people (including faith premises, restaurants and community halls).  The design was developed following extensive engagement with local people. including a series of workshops with Kender primary school, led by Yinka Danmole, Peter Hudson and Halina Edwards.

Part funded by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, it will create a distinctive landmark for Old Kent Road.