Dana Skelley OBE, a former Director of Asset Management at Transport for London (TfL) has been appointed Project Director for the task force set up by Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, to speed up the reopening of the Hammersmith Bridge in London.
The task force, which is chaired by roads minister Baroness Vere and includes the leaders of Hammersmith and Fulham and Richmond councils as well as senior representatives from TfL, Network Rail, the GLA and the Port of London Authority, meets for the second time today.
Baroness Vere said: “Dana brings a huge range of experience to the role… her appointment is a clear sign that the Government is serious about getting the best people in to sort the Hammersmith Bridge — an issue which has been void of leadership for too long.”
Ms Skelley will now lead engineering teams looking at how to repair the bridge, which links Hammersmith with Barnes.
Ms Skelley is a chartered civil engineer who works as an independent consultant. She joined TfL in 2000 as principal engineer for the City and became director of roads for London in 2008. She was responsible for a £4 billion road modernisation plan, which included preparing for the Olympics, almost all of the Thames crossings and strengthening Hammersmith flyover.
Ms Skelley said: “Bridge users deserve that full consideration be given to the options available and the right decisions are made. I look forward to working with the already established task force to enable the best outcome for this historic bridge and its many users.”
