Work has begun to repair an iconic bridge in Camden that has featured in films including James Bond's Spectre.

The Canal & River Trust has started its ten-week,  £533,000 project to repair the Grade II-listed Interchange Basin Towpath Bridge on the Regent’s Canal.

Built in 1846, the historic bridge - known locally as ‘Dead Dog bridge’ - is the busiest canal footbridge in the country, with more than one million walking and cycling visits per year.

It is an important local landmark carrying the Regent’s Canal towpath across the canal basin beneath the Camden Interchange Warehouse.

The work, which is due to be completed by the end of March, includes repairs to the bridge’s wrought iron lattice parapets, cleaning of the underlying cast iron beams, and cleaning and repointing the abutments and approach parapets. 

The bridge will be closed throughout the project, and towpath diversion routes will be in place.  

However the canal will remain open for boats to navigate.

Built at the beginning of the 20th Century by the London & North Western Railway (LNWR), the massive red brick Interchange Warehouse was designed to bring together canal, rail and road transport in one covered building, with three layers of storage.  

The entrance to the Interchange Dock became known as ‘Dead Dog Tunnel’ because debris – including dead animals – historically accumulated here at the end of the 26-mile lock-free stretch of the canal flowing into central London.

The bridge repairs have been enabled by an award from Postcode Earth Trust thanks to money raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. 

Ros Daniels, the Canal & River Trust’s director for London & South East, said: “Research shows that being next to water improves your mental and physical health. 

"The Canal & River Trust protects and preserves London’s canals, making them welcoming to encourage more people to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of walking and cycling, and being by the water."

She said engineers are working with specialist contractors to carefully repair, clean and repaint the bridge’s historic parapets and repoint the abutments on site with consent from Camden Council's conservation team.

She added: "Now over 175 years old, the bridge’s striking wrought iron lattice parapets will be lovingly restored, ensuring this historic bridge continues to carry millions of visitors enjoying the Regent’s Canal in Camden, for many years to come."

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