Technical Glitch Causes Traffic Chaos as Tower Bridge Gets Stuck Open

This morning, London‘s iconic Tower Bridge became a source of significant traffic disruption when it reportedly got stuck in an open position. According to a spokesperson from the City Bridge Foundation, which manages the bridge, the incident occurred due to ‘technical issues’ experienced after the bridge was raised for a cruise ship to pass.

The event occurred at approximately 6:00 AM, leaving the bascules—mechanical lifting devices of the bridge—stuck open for nearly an hour. Despite the bridge’s reopening before 7:30 AM, significant delays persisted in the surrounding areas well into the morning commute. Traffic monitoring platforms reported severe congestion from Tower Hill to Queen Elizabeth Street, affecting routes all the way back to Limehouse and Aldgate.

Local traffic updates indicated a backlog on The Highway from the Limehouse Link Tunnel and Tower Bridge Road from the A2 Bricklayer’s Arms. Major bus routes, including numbers 42, 78, and 343, were compelled to follow diverted paths to avoid the gridlock.

As the landmark remained non-functional, social media buzzed with images of the bridge’s bascules standing almost vertically against the early morning skies. Many users expressed frustration while some sought humor in the situation, with comments on X reflecting a mixture of satire and resignation at the recurring problem.

This is not the first time Tower Bridge has faced mechanical failures. Notably, in August 2021 and earlier instances in August 2020 and 2005, the bridge experienced closures due to similar technical problems. Back then, workmen endeavored to resolve the technical difficulties overnight to mitigate morning traffic disruptions.

Tower Bridge, completing over 800 openings annually, connects major districts along the Thames and serves as a vital route for commuters. With each of its bascules weighing more than 1,100 tons, occasional technical complications have highlighted the challenge of maintaining such a historic infrastructure.

The City Bridge Foundation assures that an investigation into the cause of the malfunction is underway, with further inspections planned during the bridge’s scheduled closure overnight. The Foundation has apologized for the inconvenience caused to commuters and pledged to rectify any issues identified from the investigation.