LONDON (WCBS 880) — A technical malfunction left London’s iconic Tower Bridge stuck in the fully open position Monday, snarling traffic for cars and pedestrians. After remaining stuck overnight, the bridge reopened early Tuesday morning.
The popular tourist attraction that crosses the River Thames was suspended in animation around 10 a.m. Eastern after a massive, historic-style ship passed through.
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“Due to a technical issue, Tower Bridge is currently stuck in a raised position,” the City of London Corporation, which owns and manages the bridge, said in a statement. “We are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
The failure left vehicles and walking traffic congested on both sides of the bascule bridge. Some pedestrians who couldn’t cross stopped to take selfies with the rare sight. The City of London Police warned the public to avoid the area.
Workers spent hours attempting to lower the bridge. The bridge remained stuck overnight Monday, but reopened to traffic early Tuesday morning.
Officials estimate the 127-year-old bridge opens and closes roughly 800 times each year to allow ships to sail beneath. Nearly 800-feet long, the Victorian structure initially powered by steam now uses electricity and oil.
Over the weekend, Twitter users posted videos of flash flooding on the bridge after heavy rainfall. It is unclear if Monday’s malfunction is connected.
Last August, the bridge malfunctioned, getting stuck partially open. Engineers resolved the issue in about an hour, and the bridge reopened the following day.
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