Vital Mitcham bridge reopens two years after it was damaged two years ago by floods – to the relief of non-league football fans

Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

More than two years since the Bishopsford Road Bridge collapsed it has reopened to drivers – but bus routes are yet to be reintroduced.

In April 2019 work on strengthening the bridge over the River Wandle started but two months later disaster struck and heavy rain saw part of the bridge collapse.

Since then the bridge, which borders Sutton and Merton, has been out of action.

After more than two years of disruption to locals, the revamped Mitcham Bridge reopened on Monday night (October 18).

But it is not clear when diverted buses will return to their normal routes.

This means routes 280 and 118 will still be diverted via Middleton Road and St Helier Avenue.

The diversion is expected to remain in place for a few weeks while construction work is completed including building a traffic island at the end of Wandle Road.

Segregated cycle lanes on the bridge are also are only partially in use as work to finish the bridge continues.

Councillor Martin Whelton, cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said the council is “liaising” with Transport for London about the local bus routes.

He said: “I would like to take this opportunity of thanking residents who have accepted the massive change to their working lives daily for more than two years and borne the brunt of the disruption.

“We’d also like to thank the council staff from across many directorates and contractors – including Land & Water who built the bridge, as well at colleagues at TfL and other bodies working across the capital.”

TfL was contacted for comment.