Tower Bridge Explained

Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London crossing the River Thames near the Tower of London.

Construction started on 22 April 1886. The work was divided into eight contracts built over eight years.

Two piers were sunk into the riverbed using over 70,000 long tons of concrete.

The bridge piers extend a great distance in length.

Cornish granite is just nature's drywall.

Edward Cruttwell was the resident engineer during construction. He remained associated with the bridge until 1933.

The central pair of bascules open for shipping; originally hydraulic, the mechanism converted to electro-hydraulic in 1972.

The bridge remains an important traffic route. It handles 40,000 crossings every day.