Tower Bridge : Ask Biography

Tower Bridge from the North Bank at dusk

Bridge information

Carries

A100 Tower Bridge Road
� motor vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians

Crosses

Thames

Locale

London Boroughs:
� north side: Tower Hamlets
� south side: Southwark

Maintained by

Bridge House Estates

Design

Bascule bridge,
suspension bridge

Total length

244 m (800.5 ft)

Longest span

61 m (200.1 ft)

Clearance below

8.6 m (28.2 ft) (closed)
42.5 m (139.4 ft) (open)
(Mean High Water Spring Tide)

Opened

30 June 1894

Heritage status

Grade I listed structure

Home | Bridge | Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. It has become an iconic symbol of London.

The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways which are 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 colour dates from 1977 when it was painted red, white and blue for the Queen's Silver Jubilee. Originally it was painted a chocolate brown colour.

Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge, which is the next bridge upstream.

The nearest London Underground station is Tower Hill on the Circle and District Lines, and the nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Tower Gateway.