its other activities included slum clearance, and the driving through of new streets to relieve traffic congestion. the most important streets built were charing cross road, garrick street, northumberland avenue, shaftesbury avenue, and southwark street. from 1869 onwards the mbw acquired all the private bridges crossing the river thames and freed them of tolls. it also rebuilt putney bridge, battersea bridge, waterloo bridge and hammersmith bridge. the board wanted to build a new bridge to the east of london bridge, which had been discussed for many years; in 1878 bazalgette drew up plans which were estimated at costing £1.25 million. despite the treasury refusing to help by extending the coal and wine dues which paid for the board, it went ahead with the plans, but saw its private bill rejected by the house of commons.