Permission was granted today for footbridges to be built over Hyde Park Corner during the Olympics, as transport chiefs issued fresh warnings about overcrowding in central London.
The three temporary structures aim to prevent spectators spilling onto roads and forcing the closure of key Olympic routes. Transport for London says the bridges are essential to move up to 15,000 visitors an hour across the island in the middle of Hyde Park Corner roundabout.
Westminster council had warned they would be a blight on the landscape. But they dropped objections after TfL and the Met police warned that the experience of the Diamond Jubilee, which saw station closures amid huge crowds, showed the bridges were needed.
Hyde Park Corner has been identified as a weak spot in the transport system, as it is a gateway to the park, which will host the triathlon and open-water swimming, parties for the Russian and African Olympic committees, and Live Nation concerts for up to 125,000 people a day, with performers including Blur and Dizzee Rascal.
There will be one bridge on the east side of Hyde Park Corner, linking Grosvenor Crescent with the Wellington Arch island site. Two bridges on the west side will link the island with Green Park. Westminster council gave ap-proval for them despite objections from the five-star Lanesborough hotel.
Alistair Moss, chairman of the council’s planning and city development committee, said: “We have a difficult balance between helping ensure the Games run smoothly, while safeguarding landmarks and parkland. These structures should reduce the likelihood of unplanned street closures.”
The army-style metal bridges will be green, “dressed” with netting, and almost 8.6m high and up to 31m long.
Today TfL warned people not to at-tend the finishing stages of the road cycling races on July 28 and 29 because of the risk of overcrowding. It comes despite their billing as a highlight of the free-to-watch Olympic events.
