London’s iconic Tower Bridge was stuck in an open position at around 1.15pm on Thursday after a boat was able to pass under it on the River Thames, bringing traffic to a standstill, according to a report in the Independent. At that time, the sailing ship Adieu was due to pass under the bridge, but the bridge struggled to close, causing chaos on London’s roads.
According to people present at the scene, the bridge finally closed after more than half an hour. An eyewitness told the outlet, “At first I thought it was nice to see the bridge open, but then realized there might be something wrong because of the different angles. I looked at it for a while. Lots of traffic (built-up) with two tourist buses waiting on the bridge and large crowds.”
He added that people started cheering when the bridge closed after a long wait. “I was almost even more excited when I saw a seal emerge from the Thames that I had never seen before in the water. There were cheers from the bridge when it was finally closed, first bicycles were allowed through and moments later the traffic arrived, said the man. said.
From Metro Great Britaina vital passageway in central London was closed as the bridge’s hydraulically powered bascules struggled to fall back down.
The movable Tower Bridge is built over the River Thames between the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark, according to Britannica. It is a historic landmark in the city that “complements” the Tower of London, which is next to it. The bridge was completed in 1894 and has an entrance 76 meters wide and 240 meters long. The twin towers rise 61 meters above the River Thames. There are also two glass-covered walkways between the two towers that are popular with tourists.