Current situation:

1. The Royal Victoria Dock (RVD) Footbridge is a high-level bridge which bisects RVD and provides a route from Excel (close to the DLR Custom House Station) over to Britannia Village. It had two lifts that were installed at each end of the bridge. These lifts were poorly designed for the situation. The top of the lifts is open to the elements and should have been fully enclosed. This has caused numerous issues over the years. The lifts are now beyond their economic/operational life and have real reliability issues, regardless of the sums of money which are spent on them. All attempts to get these lifts going have now ceased and metal covers have been placed over the doors to prevent access, prevent further vandalism and risk to the general public.

2. RoDMA are responsible for the maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of the RVD Footbridge. In 2014 it was announced that the developer for the Silvertown Quays (Millennium Mills) had included in their design a new bridge at dock level to cross RVD from the same location on the Excel side to link up with the new development and provide direct access from the planned Crossrail Station. The intention was to have an opening (swing bridge) mechanism to allow vessels to pass into the western end of RVD. The plan was that the high-level bridge would then be removed. At this point it was decided that no further options would be considered for replacement of the lifts and that their life would be extended until the new bridge was constructed. This was delayed when the investor pulled out of the development but was recommenced by the new developer, Lendlease, in 2018.

3. A decision was made by the GLA to retain the high-level bridge and in the bridge agreement Lendlease became responsible for all the refurbishment works specified by RoDMA required of the existing bridge to make it fully operational. This included the lifts. Lendlease are now working with RoDMA to replace the lifts, but there is no timeline at present. Meanwhile, RoDMA have also continuing to refurbish the wooden decking and supporting structure as required.

4. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause the people which live and work around the area, but we are in the hands of Lendlease working for when they decide they are going to procure and replace the lifts.

Due to the delay with the maintenance on the lock gates, the footpath has been re-opened. The works will now take place in the new year when the footpath will be closed once more. The commencement date for the works to be confirmed.

We will update once we have more information.

Royal Docks Management Authority

1. The Royal Victoria Dock (RVD) Footbridge is a high-level bridge which bisects RVD and provides a route from Excel (close to the DLR Custom House Station) over to Britannia Village. It had two lifts that were installed at each end of the bridge.  These lifts were poorly designed for the situation.  The top of the lifts is open to the elements and should have been fully enclosed.  This has caused numerous issues over the years.  The lifts are now beyond their economic life and have real reliability issues, regardless of the sums of money which are spent on them.

2. RoDMA are responsible for the maintenance, refurbishment and replacement of the RVD Footbridge. In 2014 it was announced that the developer for the Silvertown Quays (Millennium Mills) had included in their design a new bridge at dock level to cross RVD from the same location on the Excel side to link up with the new development and provide direct access from the planned Crossrail Station.  The intention was to have an opening (swing bridge) mechanism to allow vessels to pass into the western end of RVD.  The plan was that the high-level bridge would then be removed.  At this point it was decided that no further options would be considered for replacement of the lifts and that their life would be extended until the new bridge was constructed.  This was delayed when the investor pulled out of the development but was recommenced by the new developer, Lendlease, in 2018.

3. A decision was made by the GLA to retain the high-level bridge and in the agreement that then made Lendlease responsible for the Refurbishment Works required of the existing bridge. Lendlease are now working with RoDMA to replace the lifts, but there is no timeline at present.  Meanwhile, RoDMA have commissioned feasibility studies to look at design options to replace the lifts and are also continuing to refurbish the wooden decking and supporting structure as required.  The sub-contractor for this work will commence on 8 August.

4. Unfortunately, because of the age and uniqueness of the lifts some parts are not readily available, a consequence being that these parts must be made to order, which incurs a heavy cost and long lead times. The lift contractor has attended site many times during recent years with little or no success at maintaining operational capability, to the point that RoDMA now deem them financially unviable.

5. Over the past five years RoDMA has awarded circa £0.25m towards lift sustainability, and the realisation now is that funds would be better utilised by a change in direction. To this end RoDMA will no longer attempt to maintain lift operations, but instead direct funds into progressing the design for their replacement.