Expertly engineering safety for efficient and effective management when in use.
Tower Bridge’s design is a combination of a bascule (drawbridge) and a suspension bridge. The central span is a bascule bridge, which can be raised to allow ships to pass through. The two towers are connected by a high-level walkway, which was originally used by pedestrians to cross when the bascules were raised.
Over the years, Tower Bridge has undergone some changes and modernizations. In 1976, the original steam-powered mechanisms that operated the bascules were replaced with electric and hydraulic systems. The high-level walkways were closed in 1910 due to lack of use but were reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views of London.
