Tower Bridge stuck open bringing main London traffic to a dead stop

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    Emily Sørensen
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    Tower Bridge 'stuck' open due to 'mechanical fault' as central London traffic comes to standstill (Picture: AP, PA)

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    Traffic was brought to a dead stop (Picture: AP, PA)

    Traffic in main London was gridlocked after Tower Bridge was left stuck open for an hour following a mechanical fault.

    Social media users vented their disappointment after the well-known bridge’s arms, called bascules, stopped working to close having actually permitted a ship to travel through along the River Thames on Saturday afternoon.

    Pictures revealed lines of vehicle drivers and pedestrians waiting on a minimum of an hour from both instructions.

    One witness stated: ‘According to the security radios we overheard there are multiple failures.’

    Tower Bridge crossing the River Thames is stuck open, leaving traffic in chaos and onlookers stunned as the iconic river crossing remains open, in London, Saturday Aug. 22, 2020. The historic bridge has failed to close Saturday after opening to allow ships to pass underneath on the River Thames. (AP Photo / Tony Hicks)

    Photos reveal the well-known bridge’s arms raised at odd angles (Picture: AP)

    Another tweeted: ‘I’ve been stuck here for almost an hour now.’ A 3rd stated the bridge ‘opened almost an hour ago and it hasn’t closed back yet’, including: ‘It looks stuck and the two patrts aren’t balanced.’

    City of London Police stated on Twitter: ‘Tower Bridge is currently closed to pedestrians and traffic, due to a mechanical fault. Mechanics are currently working hard to fix the bridge. Please find alternative routes.’

    LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Pedestrians, cyclists and traffic stuck on Tower Bridge on August 22, 2020 in London, England. Tower Bridge was closed this afternoon to due a mechanical fault. The bridge was reopened to pedestrians and cyclists just after 5:45pm. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

    Pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic stuck on Tower Bridge (Picture: Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

    Tower Bridge 'stuck' open due to 'mechanical fault' as central London traffic comes to standstill (Picture: AP, PA)

    The bridge was closed for around an hour (Picture: AP, PA)

    Tower Bridge crossing the River Thames is stuck open, leaving traffic in chaos as the iconic river crossing remains open, in London, Saturday Aug. 22, 2020. The historic bridge has failed to close Saturday after opening to allow ships to pass underneath on the River Thames. (AP Photo / Tony Hicks)

    City of London Police stated the bridge is presently near to pedestrians and traffic (Picture: AP)

    Traffic and pedestrians waiting on the approach to Tower Bridge in London, after the bridge became stuck open, causing traffic chaos. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2020. See PA story. Photo credit should read: Victoria Jones/PA Wire

    The closure triggered traffic turmoil (Picture: PA)

    The bridge links the Square Mile monetary district to Southwark.

    It is not the very first time the landmark has actually suffered a technical problem.

    Engineers invested 10 hours attempting to bring the arms down in 2005.

    Each bascule weighs more than 12 heaps, and a 400-load counterweight assists decrease them when river traffic has actually travelled through.

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