Millennium Bridge, London
The Millennium Bridge, officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames in London, England, linking Bankside with the City of London. It is owned and maintained by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction began in 1998, and it initially opened on 10 June 2000.
Millennium Bridge | |
|---|---|
The bridge seen from St Paul's Cathedral. | |
| Coordinates | 51°30′37″N 0°05′54″W |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | River Thames |
| Locale | London, England |
| Official name | London Millennium Footbridge |
| Maintained by | Bridge House Estates, City of London Corporation |
| Preceded by | Blackfriars Railway Bridge |
| Followed by | Southwark Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Total length | 325 metres (1,066 ft) |
| Width | 4 metres (13 ft) |
| Longest span | 144 metres (472 ft) |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Arup |
| Constructed by | Monberg & Thorsen Sir Robert McAlpine |
| Opened | 10 June 2000 |
| Location | |
Londoners nicknamed it the "Wobbly Bridge" after pedestrians experienced an alarming swaying motion on its opening day. The bridge was closed later that day and, after two days of limited access, it was closed again for almost two years so that modifications and repairs could be made to keep the bridge stable and stop the swaying motion. It reopened in February 2002.
The bridge is located between Southwark Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge. Its southern end is near the Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery, and Tate Modern, while its northern end is next to the City of London School below St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge's alignment is such that a clear view (i.e. a "terminating vista") of St Paul's south facade is presented from across the river, framed by the bridge supports.