LCI Productions, a leading multimedia show design and production company, worked with Hammersmith Bridge SOS Residents’ Group to light up one of London’s most iconic bridges this Valentine’s Day, in a move to highlight the impact of the structure’s ongoing closure.
Valentine’s Day 2021 marked six months since Hammersmith Bridge closed to pedestrians. The bridge closed to vehicles in 2019 following the discovery of severe structural issues. For nearly two years, local authorities and central government have not been able to agree on who should pay for the repairs, and there is still no action plan or confirmed funds.
On Sunday 14 Feb 2021, the bridge was lit up with the message: Broken Hearts. Broken Promises. Broken Lives. Broken Bridge, in a Valentine’s message to PM Boris Johnson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Stephen Cowan, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council.
UK’s biggest Valentine’s Message
The prolonged closure is having a significant impact on residents, with children having longer journeys to school, workers having increased commutes and congestion spilling over into the surrounding areas.
In a recent survey, 88% of local residents interviewed said the bridge closure had a significant negative effect on their mental health. It is also impacting local businesses, many of which are already pushed to breaking point by the pandemic.
Helen Pennant Rea is the Chair of the Hammersmith Bridge SOS Residents’ Group, which campaigns for the bridge re-opening. She says “It is a great shame that we need to raise further attention to the complete inability of politicians from all parties to find a satisfactory solution, to proceed with the funding and works to repair Hammersmith Bridge. Also, to deliver the urgently needed temporary pedestrian crossing.
“Our Valentine’s card is intended to be a fun and entertaining way to draw attention to what remains a serious issue. The Bridge closure is a real problem for people, businesses and local lives in general. We very much hope our message will get through to the politicians concerned: SW London is fed up and angry with waiting for progress and results to no avail. The Government task force has completely failed to resolve this on our behalf.
“We have become an international laughing stock with a number of national media outlets in other major countries reporting their disbelief that such a relatively wealthy and advanced country as Britain can fail so comprehensively to repair a key bridge in their capital. We all know that in many other countries the bridge would have been repaired or replaced many months ago.”
“We were pleased to assist Hammersmith Bridge SOS with the cause, it’s great the stunt got a lot of media attention,’ says Rob Paul, Design Director, LCI Productions.
The projection was delivered by LCI Productions after Hammersmith Bridge SOS contacted the company to assist. The activation was delivered by two projection systems and an array of LED floods.
Last year, LCI provided lasers for an 80s style video to accompany pop band Little Mix’s single, Break Up Song.
