With the bridge stuck in position, passersby have spoken of the traffic chaos in the immediate area. Due to the incident, traffic has been brought to a standstill while travellers have been forced to turn back. One person said: “Tower Bridge is currently experiencing a technical fault and the bridge is stuck open.
“Slight pause to my walk Nurses Active but it was cool to see the bridge open for the first time in my life!”
The bridge is an essential route in central London and it is unclear what caused the malfunction.
Last August, the bastules – the bridge’s arms – were also pictured in the upright position thus blocking traffic.
City of London police said the bridge was closed due to a technical failure this afternoon.
They said: “Tower Bridge is currently closed to traffic and pedestrians due to technical failure.”
Commenting on the incident today, one person said: “Tower Bridge is stuck open.”
Another said: “Change of route on a stroll round London – Tower Bridge is stuck!”
One person also added: “My gym is at the other side of Tower Bridge, I think I’ll do something at home instead.”
JUST IN: Brexit LIVE: Boris ignores ultimatum to save firms in North East
“It’s leading to bands of heavy showers and thunderstorms, which you have seen through the course of Friday, and we have seen flooding in places, too.
“This is going to continue through the weekend, particularly across the northern half of the UK where the showers will be slow-moving compared to southern areas, where it’s a little bit windier.”
Last month, multiple areas of London suffered from flooding following downpours.
Multiple underground stations were also forced to close due to the heavy rain.
Met Office meteorologists have claimed the end of this month may provide some drier weather for the country.
Following the prolonged period of wet weather, the Met Office has claimed the mercury could rise to the high 20Cs later this month.
Met Office meteorologist Becky Mitchell said: “It’s going to stay quite changeable at least for the next week but as we head towards the end of August, there’s a likelihood we’ll see hotter spell of weather and drier more settled weather across the whole of the UK.
“While it is too early to predict temperatures at this stage, it could ‘potentially be in the high 20s.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1474431/London-news-Tower-Bridge-open-stuck-shut-down-closed-emergency-repairs-traffic-latest
