Renovation work resumes on Blackfriars Bridge

An intriguing sight has appeared beneath Blackfriars Bridge this week: a bundle of straw hanging under one of its spans.

It’s not there by accident. The straw marks the official restart of major renovation work on Blackfriars Bridge, a Grade II listed Victorian structure owned and maintained by City Bridge Foundation, the charity responsible for five Thames crossings.

The bundle of straw is part of a long standing river signal, still required today under the Port of London Thames Byelaws, warning vessels that work is taking place beneath the bridge and that space below may be restricted. By night, the signal is reinforced by a white light. It’s a small but striking reminder of how historic river customs continue to shape modern London.

Spanning the Thames since 1869, Blackfriars Bridge is now entering phase two of a £17.2 million renovation programme, fully funded by City Bridge Foundation and delivered at no cost to taxpayers.

The specialist-led works are designed to ensure the bridge remains safe, resilient and accessible, while respecting the craftsmanship and engineering of its original Victorian design. The bridge will remain open throughout the programme, with only occasional short-term night closures to allow for deliveries.

Works are being led by infrastructure and heritage specialists Taziker, under the oversight of City Bridge Foundation and their trustee, the City of London Corporation.

Much of the work focuses on renewing the bridge’s ornate ironwork using traditional techniques combined with modern materials:

• Around 800–900 balusters, from a total of roughly 2,000 lining the bridge, will be carefully restored or replaced. Each must be individually identified, as the Victorians used nine subtly different baluster designs.
• New iron components are being sand cast using precision heritage techniques to remain faithful to the original design at a family-run Midlands foundry – methods similar to those used when the bridge was first built.
• 137 decorative roundels overlooking the river will be regilded by hand, using ethically-sourced Fairmined gold leaf.
• Old paint and corrosion are being removed and replaced with high-performance fluoropolymer coatings, designed to last far longer than previous paint systems. The contrast is already visible, with newly finished sections returning the bridge to its rich original red, following years of natural colour loss.

Together, these works combine traditional craft skills – casting, gilding and painting – with modern engineering and sustainability standards, extending the life of the bridge for generations to come.

The renovation programme has been carefully planned to limit disruption to Londoners and river users. Aside from short-term night closures and temporary changes beneath the bridge while scaffolding is in place, traffic, cycling and pedestrian routes will remain open.

Work is expected to continue until early 2028.

• City Bridge Foundation is a world-class bridge owner responsible for five Thames crossings – including the iconic Tower Bridge – and is London’s biggest independent charity funder. 
• Phase one of the Blackfriars Bridge renovation was completed in 2023 at a cost of approximately £6 million.
• The total programme budget is £17.2 million, with £11.2 million allocated to phase two.
• Works are funded entirely by City Bridge Foundation, without public or taxpayer funding.
• Specialist and trade media are welcome to contact City Bridge Foundation for further technical detail, interviews or site visits as work progresses — comms@citybridgefoundation.org.uk 
• City Bridge Foundation has been bridging London and connecting communities for over 900 years. Our sole trustee is the City of London Corporation – the governing body for the Square Mile. 
• Since 1995, City Bridge Foundation has awarded over £840 million to charitable organisations working to tackle inequality and injustice across London.