Falcon Road rail bridge renewal project
Clapham Junction's Falcon Road rail bridge will get a colourful makeover in 2025 following an architectural design competition run by Wandsworth Council and London Festival of Architecture.
About the project
The bridge will undergo a dramatic transformation, from a dark and unwelcoming route under the railway to becoming a vibrant and inclusive community landmark in the heart of the town centre.
Winning proposal
The winning proposal, Beyond the Bridge, prioritises community engagement, sustainability, and safety, with a design that reflects the rich cultural identity of Wandsworth. The new bridge design will be completed in winter 2025, during Wandsworth's year as London Borough of Culture 2025.
The collaborative design team of GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Cundall and MDA Consulting are addressing key community concerns such as safety, lighting, and noise reduction.
Community engagement
These improvement works follow extensive resident engagement and over 1,000 survey responses to help select the winning design team. The design team has developed the artwork through community engagement and resident input to create a brighter and more welcoming underpass, paid for with contributions from property developers.
Enhancing the area
The improvement project, in partnership with Network Rail, will address the bridge's challenges and enhance the area around Clapham Junction station for local residents and businesses.
Improvement works underway
The work starts from Monday 21 July 2025, with support from partners including Network Rail and Shopstop, and will take approximately five months to complete.
Works taking place
The works include:
- New artwork cladding along the length of both walls underneath the bridge
- Enhanced lighting
- Pigeon-proofing
- New paint to the bridge structures
- Landscaping to the south side of the bridge
Access during works
To safely carry out the works we have to install temporary traffic signals under the bridge to allow work to take place on one side at a time. One pedestrian footway will remain open throughout the works, with pedestrian crossings provided at either end.
In addition to this, the route under the bridge will be closed to vehicles between the hours of 9.30pm and 5.30am for three weeks from 28 July.
Pedestrian access will be maintained with marshals present, and cyclists will be asked to dismount and walk their bikes through the underpass. Signed diversion routes will be in place whilst the bridge is closed.
Buses
Working closely with Transport for London, we have managed to minimise the impact on bus services during the works, however some services will be impacted at times. TfL will advertise all service information at the bus stops affected and details can be found on the TfL website.
Roadworks
To ensure better traffic flows through the area, Wandsworth Council and TfL will not permit any non-emergency roadworks on the diversion routes.
Check all roadworks in Wandsworth.
About the design
Members of the GPAD-led design team have connections with the Wandsworth area and have put the local community, including young people, at the centre of their approach.
Central to the design is the concept of community ownership:
Dynamic lighting: Responsive and artistic lighting enhances visibility and celebrates local cultural events, creating a vibrant and safe space day and night.
Green gateway: A focus on air quality and biodiversity introduces pollinator-friendly plants and accessible micro-gardens.
Community wayfinding and art: The underpass features a 'Memories of Wandsworth' wayfinding wall, co-designed with local residents, celebrating landmarks and stories through art and dynamic murals.
Acoustic comfort: Panels integrated with artistic elements reduce noise and improve comfort for all users, including neurodivergent individuals.
Contact
Email falconroadbridge@wandsworth.gov.uk for additional information about the project.