Y2K gave us Kid A by Radiohead, but it also gave the handy Millennium Bridge, which gives super speedy pedestrianised access across the river and towards the Tate Modern. Which is better? There is no need to choose, of course – you can simply put it on the headphones as you walk across.
Only for a few weeks, you’ll have to face the music and do without Millennium Bridge, as it shuts for essential maintenance between October 14 and November 5.
Nicknamed ‘wobbly’ bridge, the 325-metre-long suspension walkway arrived in 2000 and provides a handy passage for those who want to quickly walk to and from St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern—a godsend for both tourists and local workers.
The Millennium Bridge will close from 8am on October 14, and work will commence to replace the layer under the aluminium deck of the bridge’s surface,
He said: “Since it opened to mark the new millennium, the bridge has become a much-loved and very well-used fixture on the London landscape, but it is starting to show its age. The separation layer under the bridge deck has started to degrade, which means it’s having an adverse effect on the bridge deck and needs addressing urgently.
It’s one of five bridges under the City Bridge Foundation, which maintains and looks after the structures in the city. Should all go to plan the bridge will reopen to pedestrians on November 5.
“Replacing this layer is a time-consuming process, meaning we have no option but to close the bridge for three weeks and to work round the clock to get it done as quickly as possible,” Shilson added.
“We’re sorry for any inconvenience but hope people will understand we do need to do this work, and will see the benefits after we give the bridge a much-needed deep clean that will leave it looking as good as new.”
Keep up to date with reopening plans for the bridge on this page.