TOWER BRIDGE

HOW WAS IT MADE?

• It took 10 years to build
• 5 major contractors
• Relentless work of 432 construction workers
• Two massive piers were sunk into the river bed for support
• Over 11 thousand tons of steel was used for the towers and walkways

CONSTRUCTION

• Plans for bridge construction began in 1876
• East of London became crowded and a bridge across the Thames River was a necessity
• After the idea, it took another 8 years and lots of designing to begin construction
• It was finally finished in 1894

HOW IT WORKS

• Tower bridge is a bascule bridge
• The bascules are raised and lowered by hydraulics
• Hydraulics are driven by oil and electricity
• Despite the complex system, it only takes about a minute to raise the bascules
• The bascules raise to 86 degrees when completely risen

TOWER BRIDGE TRAFFIC

• The bridge is crossed by about 40,000 people a day
• It is raised about 1,000 times a year for boat traffic

INTERESTING FACTS AND STORIES

• In 1912, a pilot flew under the bridge to keep from crashing into it
• A bus was caught on the bridge just as it began to open
• With only seconds to spare the driver gassed it and cleared a 3 foot gap

CHALLENGES

• Engineers had to find a way to build a bridge without disrupting water traffic
• The bridge had to accommodate foot traffic as well as passing boats
• The Thames River it is built over has low banks
• The problems were overcome by constructing a bascule bridge

BIBLIOGRAPGHY

• http://www.aviewoncities.com/london/towerbridge.htm
• http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TBE/EN/BridgeHistory/
• http://traveltips.usatoday.com/london-tower-bridge-3507.html