London’s Tower Bridge gets stuck in open position, causes traffic jam
The famous Tower Bridge in London got stuck in an open position after allowing a boat to pass underneath on the River Thames.
London: The famous Tower Bridge in London got stuck in an open position, bringing traffic to a standstill. This unusual incident happened when the bridge was supposed to close after allowing a boat to pass underneath on the River Thames at around 1:15 p.m., as reported by The Independent.
The boat involved in the incident was the sailing barge Adieu, which needed to pass under the bridge. However, things didn’t go as planned, and the bridge had difficulty closing properly, leading to a traffic nightmare on London’s roads.
Eyewitnesses on the scene described the situation, with one person saying, “I first thought it was nice to see the bridge open but then realised something might be wrong due to the different angles. I watched it for a little while. There is a lot of traffic (built-up) with two tourist buses waiting on the bridge and large crowds.”
After more than half an hour of uncertainty and waiting, the bridge finally closed. The eyewitness added, “I was almost more excited to see a Thames seal which I had never seen before pop up (in the water). There were cheers from the bridge as it eventually closed with bikes first allowed through and then traffic a moment later.”
According to Metro UK, this incident disrupted a vital passage in central London as the bridge’s hydraulically driven bascules had trouble lowering back down.
Tower Bridge, an iconic structure, spans the River Thames and connects the Greater London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark. It has been a historic landmark in the city since its completion in 1894. The bridge has an entrance that is 76 metres (250 feet) wide and 240 metres (800 feet) long. Its twin towers stand tall at 61 metres (200 feet) above the River Thames, and it’s known for its two glass-covered walkways that are popular among tourists.
Ms Kalinga