One of London’s best known landmarks is getting a much-needed upgrade.
In an age in which the word “iconic” is used to describe even the most mediocre of structures, it is refreshing to report on a project that really does deserve that status: repairs to London’s Tower Bridge. The 122-year-old bridge is one of London’s best known landmarks, and is also a vital river crossing, used by more than 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles every day.
Despite an 18t weight limit, all that traffic has taken its toll, and the bridge is currently closed to traffic to enable the existing deck to be stripped out, repaired and resurfaced for the first time in almost 40 years. The work has been in the pipeline for more than five years as part of the City of London Corporation’s 50-year plan to maintain the bridges in its control, but this autumn was the first opportunity that the work could be done with minimum disruption.
Lifting the surfacing
“We started planning before the Olympics, but we couldn’t do anything until that was over,” explains the Corporation’s assistant director engineering Paul Monaghan. “It has taken me that long to negotiate the closure at the right time, because it has significant impact on traffic in the City.”
The Corporation identified the period from October to December as the most suitable window. “The best time to do roadworks is the middle of the summer, but that’s the busiest time for the bridge, both in terms of tourists and river traffic,” explains Monaghan. “There is less river traffic in the middle of winter, so we opted for these three months, when you usually get the best weather.”
The issue of river traffic is significant: under an Act of Parliament, the Corporation is duty bound to lift the bridge for any vessel that gives 24 hours’ notice. Currently there are about 900 lifts every year, with a full lift taking 10 to 12 minutes. Carrying out the work in the autumn and winter means there are fewer lifts, but tourist boats, cruise ships and Thames barges still regularly go through, meaning multiple lifts every day, even while the deck repairs are underway.
ource: Tower Bridge | Landmark upgrade | Article | New Civil Engineer
