Tower Bridge 'stuck' open due to 'mechanical fault' as central London traffic comes to standstill

Imogen Braddick23 August 2020

Traffic was brought to a standstill in central London after Tower Bridge was stuck open for more than an hour due to a mechanical fault.

Photos of the famous bascule bridge showed the two arms at different angles, with witnesses saying they had failed to come down at the same time.

One social media user said: "I’ve been stuck here for nearly an hour now… #TowerBridge.”

Another commented: "Yep, tower bridge definitely stuck! One side started to come down but the other didn’t! #towerbridge #londontraffic."

A witness told the Standard: "According to the security radios we overheard there are multiple failures."

Traffic was stationary in both directions for several hours, with drivers urged to use alternative routes.

Earlier, City of London Police said on Twitter: "Tower Bridge is currently closed to pedestrians and traffic, due a mechanical fault.

"Mechanics are currently working hard to fix the bridge. Please find alternative routes."

Pedestrians said they waited on either side of the bridge for more than an hour.

The incident causes traffic chaos in central London
PA

The two sides are understood to have been lowered by 6pm, but traffic and pedestrians were still being held back at that time.

Police shared an update on Twitter at 6.30pm.

"Tower Bridge is currently closed to traffic but open to pedestrians," they said.

Mechanics are working to fix the bridge and reopen it to vehicles
AP

"Mechanics are working to fix the bridge. Please find alternative routes."

The bridge connects the Square Mile financial district to Southwark.

In 2005 police closed the bridge for 10 hours after a technical problem meant the arms could not be lowered.

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