Bridge

Tower Bridge, or Tower Bridge is a combined suspension (hanging) and drawbridge (opening) bridge in central London over the River Thames, near the Tower of London. Sometimes confused with London Bridge, located about 0.8 km upstream. Construction began in 1886; opened in 1894. It is also one of the symbols of London and Britain.

History

Construction
It is a drawbridge with a length of 244 m with two towers with a height of 65 m placed on intermediate supports . The central span between the towers with a length of 61 m is divided into two lifting wings weighing more than a thousand tons, which can be raised at an angle of 83° to allow ships to pass.
To better protect the metal structure from corrosion, the towers were lined with stone, the architectural style of the structure is defined as Victorian Gothic. The total cost of the construction was 1,184,000 pounds

Interesting facts
In 1912, British pilot Frank McLean managed to fly his biplane between the towers of the bridge in the space between the upper and lower tiers.
In 1952, a bus driver with passengers found himself on the bridge at the time of wiring and, accelerating, forced the bus to jump from one rising wing to another.
There are 2 elevators inside the towers – one for ascent, one for descent. Each of them is able to take up to 30 people at a time.