Travel chaos looms as Tower Bridge to close for three months

Tower Bridge will be closed in October for three months to undergo essential maintenance work bringing the possibility of travel chaos on both side of the Thames.

From 1 October, Tower Bridge Road will close to vehicles to allow the works to take place. These will include the replacement of the decking on the bascules; corrosion prevention and repair operations; replacement of worn expansion joints; resurfacing of fixed roads and walkways; waterproofing of approach viaducts; the overhaul/maintenance of key mechanical and lift components and general cleaning/repairs to the towers, as well as replacement of river navigation and traffic signal lights

The 122-year-old bridge is a vital connection in crossing the Thames with over 40,000 people, including 21,000 vehicles, crossing it everyday. This daily heavy use has had an effect on the timber decking of the bridge, which was last refurbished in the 1970s.

The City will be working closely with TfL and the London Boroughs of Southwark and Tower Hamlets to minimise the disruption this needed development will cause, and comprehensive traffic management plans will be in place for the duration of this work.

A crossing for pedestrians will be maintained at all times. Subject to final design and agreement with the local authorities, the Bridge will remain open to pedestrians for all but three weekends of the three months of planned works, during which time it is proposed that a free replacement ferry service be provided. The viewing gallery along the walkways of the bridge will remain open to visitors for the entirety of the works, and exhibitions will continue as planned.

Chris Hayward, Chairman of the Planning and Transport Committee said: “This decision to close Tower Bridge to vehicles has not been taken lightly, and this course of action has been taken after extensive consultation and planning in conjunction with numerous stakeholders.

“We will use this time to repair, refurbish, and upgrade London’s most iconic bridge, which has gone without significant engineering works for more than thirty-five years.

“We will work hard to minimise disruption to both pedestrians and motor vehicles, and the bridge’s viewing walkways and exhibitions will stay open for the entirety of the works.”

AA president Edmund King lamented the planned work, saying Londoners had only just got back to a sense of traffic normality following the disruption caused by the creation of the Cycle Superhighways. He commented: “Just when traffic will have got back to normal following the disruption caused by the Cycle Superhighways construction, London drivers will be hit by another dead end.”

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