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47
porary bridge for foot and vehicular traffic euring the reconstruction
of the bridge, and other purposes. The Board resolved to
petition in favor of the Bill, and the following petition was sealed
by the Board and presented to Parliament,
In the House of Commons, Session 1883.
Metropolitan Board of Works Bridges &c.
Petition: in favor.
To the Honorable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled.
THE HUMBLE PETITION of the BOARD of WORKS
for the FULHAM DISTRICT under their Common Seal.
SHEWETH,—
1. A Bill promoted by the Metropolitan Board of Works (herein
called "the Bill") is pending before Your Honorable House entitled
Metropolitan Board of Works (Bridges Ac.) Bill for enabling
the Metropolitan Board of Works "to alter and reconstruct Ham"mersmith
Bridge: for providing for the free use by the public of
"the East and West Ferry roads in the Parish of Poplar in the
"County of Middlesex, and for other purposes.
2. Your Petitioners are the Board of Works for the Fulham
District which includes the Parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Hammersmith within the area of which part of the Hammersmith
Bridge and the approaches thereto are situate.
3. The Bill contains power to the Metropolitan Board to effect
(with others) the following Improvements and Works:—
(a) The reconstruction and maintenance of Hammersmith
Bridge (s. 6).
(b) The making and maintenance of a temporary Bridge with
approach Roads during such alteration and reconstruction
and until the same is opened for public traffic (s. 8).
(c) The prohibition of the stopping up wholly or partially
of the existing Bridge until such temporary Bridge is so
made (6 sub, 2).
4. A reference to a map shewing the approaches to the said
Bridge will demonstrate the importance of the same as a main
arterial communication in the metropolis and neighbourhoods on
both sides of the River Thames.
5. Your petitioners have by memorial and deputation represented
to the Metropolitan Board that as at present constructed with a
width of 14 feet only between the two Suspension Towers it is
dangerous and unfit for general traffic, and is utterly inadequate to
meet the exigences of the rapidly increasing population and traffic
of the metropolis and locality and on account of the enormous
amount of traffic passing over the Bridge, on ordinary days there
being an average of about 7000 foot passengers and 1245 vehicles