London's Tower Bridge closes until New Year

October 01, 2016 16:55

London's iconic Tower Bridge closed to vehicles for three months on Saturday for its first major maintenance works in nearly half a century.

The 122-year-old drawbridge by the Tower of London -- whose roadway leaves are lifted to allow tall ships on the River Thames to pass through -- carries 21,000 vehicles and some 40,000 people per day.

It will be closed to road traffic until December 30.

The bridge's galleries will remain open during the works, and pedestrians will still be able to pass with the exception of three weekends in November and December.

The bridge is 801 feet (244 metres) long and 213 feet (65 metres) high.

The maintenance includes major work to the bridge lifting mechanisms, replacing the timber decking, resurfacing the road and walkways, and waterproofing the brick arches.

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