What is the only bridge in London that can be raised?
Tower Bridge is the only bridge on the Thames that can be raised. Today the bridge is a major crossing for over 40,000 people on a daily basis.
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The Bridge is bound by an Act of Parliament to give river traffic priority over road traffic, which can sometimes be frustrating to car drivers stuck in rush hour traffic! The Tower Bridge Act of 1885 also states that the Bridge is to be opened free of charge for river traffic.
By 1962, it was not sturdy enough to carry the increased load of traffic; the bridge was sold by the City of London in April 1968 to make way for its replacement. The purchaser, Robert P. McCulloch, was an entrepreneur and real estate developer who founded Lake Havasu City.
The inside of the bridge is hollow because it was rebuilt in order to accommodate auto traffic. During the London Bridge's reassembly, a steel framework was faced in granite, rather than using solid granite blocks, which reduced its weight from 130,000 tons to 30,000 tons while strengthening the structure.
2) Shipping - in the 18th/19th century London was the busiest port in the world - therefore building bridges was impossible as they would have interrupted trade. 3) Lack of demand - traditionally East London has been much poorer and sparsely populated than West London - so there was no need for river crossings here.
Your timed entry ticket allows you plenty of time to explore the Bridge's Towers, Walkways and Engine Rooms. It is recommended to allow approximately one hour to 90 minutes for your visit. You can also book guided tours of Tower Bridge, which last approximately 90 minutes.
London Bridge was actually the sole crossing of the Thames until the construction of Putney Bridge in 1729. By 1870s, around a million people were living east of London Bridge, so getting across it could take hours. Tower Bridge came out of this need for a new river crossing, and was completed in 1894.
To look at London Bridge now you see…. well…..a bridge with traffic on it. But go back three centuries or more and the bridge was full of houses and some illustrious tenants. During the reign of Henry VIII, the court painter Holbein lived there.