TOWER BRIDGE, LONDON

LOCATION : Tower Bridge (built 1886–1894) is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London which crosses the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London from which it takes its name, and has become an iconic symbol of London. The bridge was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by The Prince of Wales, and his wife, The Princess of Wale^s.

DESCRIPTION : The bridge consists of two towers tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers.

 

The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present   silver jubilee. The nearest London Underground Station  is Tower Hill on the Circle and District Lines. colour scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's

 

 

Tower Bridge is still a busy and vital crossing of the Thames: it is crossed by over 40,000 people (motorists, cyclists and pedestrians) every day. The bridge is on the London Inner Ring Road and is on the eastern boundary of the London congestion charge zone. Tower Bridge opening at night for a ferry.

To maintain the integrity of the structure, the City of London Corporation has imposed a 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) speed restriction, and an 18 tonne weight limit on vehicles using the bridge. A camera system measures the speed of traffic crossing the bridge, utilising a number plate recognition system to send fixed penalty charges to speeding drivers.