Editing Tower Bridge (section)

== History ==

=== Inception ===
[[File:Tower bridge schm020.png|thumb|right|Elevation, with dimensions]]
By the late 19th century, the population and commercial development in the [[East End of London]] was increasing, leading to demand for a new river crossing downstream of [[London Bridge]]. A traditional fixed bridge at street level could not be built because it would cut off access by [[sailing ships]] to the port facilities in the [[Pool of London]] between London Bridge and the [[Tower of London]].{{sfn|Bracken|2011|p=56}}

A ''Special Bridge or Subway Committee'' chaired by Sir Albert Joseph Altman was formed in December 1875 to find a solution.{{sfn|Welch|Barry|Benham|1894|p=159}} On 7 December 1876, the Committee presented a report recommending a bridge or subway to the east of London Bridge should be constructed, funds permitting.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Welch |first=Charles |title=History of The Tower Bridge |publisher=Smith, Elder and Co. |year=1894 |location=London |pages=152–200 }}</ref>

More than fifty designs were submitted, including one from civil engineer Sir [[Joseph Bazalgette]], which was rejected because of a lack of sufficient headroom. None of the designs gained support and it was not until 24 July 1884 that the Bridge House Estates Committee brought forward a report that proposed "a low level bridge, with mechanical opening or openings" be built.<ref name=":5" /> Following a deputation from the Committee visiting Belgium, Holland, and Newcastle Bridge, a proposal was presented on 28 October 1884 to the Court of Common Council for a mechanical bridge built according to one of three models: Design A, a [[swing bridge]]; Design B, a variation of that swing bridge; and Design C a [[bascule bridge]].{{sfn|Bracken|2011|p=56}}{{sfn|Welch|Barry|Benham|1894|pp=158,160}} Design C was recommended and a bill was prepared to present to Parliament.<ref name=":5" />

=== Legislation ===
The [[act of Parliament]] authorising construction received royal assent on 14 August 1885 and is called the [[Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act 1885]] ([[48 & 49 Vict.]] c. cxcv).<ref name=":5" /> The act was specific about the design of what it (and contemporary media) named "The Tower Bridge", rather than just "Tower Bridge". Key stipulations were:

# The central opening span to be 200 feet clear width with a height of 135 feet above Trinity high water when open, and a height of 29 feet when closed.
# The size of the piers to be 185 feet long and 70 feet wide.
# The length of each of the two side spans to be 270 feet.
# During construction a clear waterway of 160 feet wide had to be maintained for river traffic.
# The design of the bridge should be made to accord with the architecture of the [[Tower of London]].<ref name=":5" />
# The bridge was to be completed within 4 years from the passing of the act.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=14 August 1885 |title=Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act, 1885 |journal=Acts of Parliament 48 & 49 Vict |via=Parliamentary Archives }}</ref>
# The bridge was to be opened at any time for the passage of any vessels, regardless of any delays to land traffic.

[[John Wolfe Barry|Barry]] later noted that "at one time it was intended that the new works should be made suitable for the mounting of guns and for military occupation." But that "The latter idea was afterwards to a great extent discarded."<ref name=":5" /> However, the act provided for "the senior officer commanding in the Tower [of London]...shall at all times have...the right to occupy the Tower Bridge."

The extent of the maritime trade conducted at this time between the site of Tower Bridge and London Bridge (a distance of approximately 0.5 miles) is demonstrated in Schedule B of the act which lists 11 active [[Dock|docks]], quays and [[Wharf|wharfs]] operating on the north side of the Thames, and 20 wharfs operating on the south side.

Two further acts of Parliament were required to extend the time allowed to complete the works. On 12 August 1889 the [[Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act 1889]] received royal assent to extend the time allowed for construction by a further four years to 1893 and make various adjustments to neighbouring streets that had proved necessary. The work was not yet complete after those four years, and on 29 June 1893 the [[Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Extension of Time Act 1893]] received royal assent extending the time by a further year.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Corporation of London (Tower Bridge) Act 1889 |date=12 August 1889 |publisher=UK Parliament |publication-date=12 August 1889 }}</ref>

=== Construction ===
Construction was funded by the [[City Bridge Foundation]], a charity established in 1282 for maintenance of London Bridge that subsequently expanded to cover Tower Bridge, [[Blackfriars Bridge]], [[Southwark Bridge]] and the [[Millennium Bridge (London)|Millennium Bridge]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bridge House Estates |url=https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/about-us/city-of-london/bhe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184527/https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/about-us/city-of-london/bhe |archive-date=9 July 2021 |access-date=1 July 2021 |website=Tower Bridge |publisher=[[City of London Corporation]] }}</ref>

Sir [[John Wolfe Barry]] was appointed engineer and Sir [[Horace Jones (architect)|Horace Jones]] the architect (who, as the City Architect, was also one of the judges).{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=922}}{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=148}} Jones and Barry designed a bridge with two [[bridge tower]]s built on piers. The central [[span (engineering)|span]] was split into two equal bascules or leaves, which could be raised to allow river traffic to pass. The two side spans were suspension bridges, with rods anchored both at the [[abutment]]s and through rods contained in the bridge's upper walkways.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=922}}
[[File:Tower bridge works 1892.jpg|left|thumb|Tower Bridge under construction, 1892]]
Construction – overseen by [[Edward Cruttwell]] – started on 22 April 1886,<ref name=":5" /> with the [[cornerstone|foundation stone]] laid by the [[Edward VII|Prince of Wales]] on 21 June, and took eight years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Thames – Bridges – Tower Bridge |url=https://www.victorianlondon.org/thames/towerbridge.htm |website=Victorian London |access-date=29 June 2021 |quote=Further communication across the Thames at this point had been urgently needed for many years. The necessary Act was passed in 1885, the foundation stone laid by the Prince of Wales on June 21, 1886, and the work completed, at a cost of about a million sterling, in 1894. |archive-date=29 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629154420/https://www.victorianlondon.org/thames/towerbridge.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=times_opening>{{cite news |title=The Opening Of The Towerbridge |newspaper=The Times |date=2 July 1894 |page=11 |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS184736482/TTDA?u=kccl&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=9a3982e1 |access-date=23 June 2021 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The work was divided into eight contracts. Mr (later Sir) [[John Jackson (UK politician)|John Jackson]] won three of those contracts and was responsible for the northern approach to the bridge (which started in February 1887), the foundations of the piers and the abutments of the bridge (started February 1887),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/people/divers |title=The Divers |website=Tower Bridge |publisher=[[City of London Corporation]] |access-date=23 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203844/https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/people/divers |url-status=live }}</ref> and the cast iron parapet for the northern approach (December 1887) at a total accepted tender cost of £189,732;<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Tuit |first=J. E. |date=15 December 1893 |title=The Tower Bridge |journal=The Engineer |pages=556 }}</ref> Sir W. G. [[William Armstrong, 1st Baron Armstrong|Armstrong, Mitchell, and Co. Ltd]], was awarded the hydraulics contract for which they tendered £85,232 (December 1887); Mr [[William Webster (builder)|William Webster]] was responsible for the southern approach{{sfn|Welch|Barry|Benham|1894|p=219}} at £38,383 (July 1888); [[Sir William Arrol & Co.]] had the contract for the metalwork of the superstructure<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/people/sir-william-arrol |title=Sir William Arrol |website=Tower Bridge |publisher=[[City of London Corporation]] |access-date=24 June 2021 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205012/https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/people/sir-william-arrol |url-status=live }}</ref> at £337,113 (May 1889), which amounted to about 12,100 tons;<ref name=":0" /> Messrs Perry & Co won two contracts covering the masonry superstructure (May 1889), and paving and lighting (May 1892) for a total accepted tender of £179,455.<ref name=":1" /> The total accepted tender for the eight contracts was £830,005.<ref name=":1" />

On average 432 people worked on the site,<ref name=":0" /> although at least 1,200 worked on its construction overall and received invitations to the entertainment provided for the workmen at its opening.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=4 July 1894 |title=The Workmen Entertained |work=City Press }}</ref> Cruttwell was the resident engineer throughout the period of construction{{sfn|Tower Bridge|1994|p=47}} (and remained associated with the bridge until his death in 1933).<ref name="Cruttwell">{{Cite web |title=About Edward Cruttwell |url=https://heritage.towerbridge.org.uk/about-edward-cruttwell/ |access-date=27 August 2024 |website=Heritage – Tower Bridge |language=en-GB |archive-date=28 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240828153532/https://heritage.towerbridge.org.uk/about-edward-cruttwell/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He noted that there were "only" ten fatal accidents during the construction: four in sinking the foundations, one on the approaches, and the remaining five on the superstructure.<ref name=":0" />

Two piers, containing over {{cvt|70,000|LT|ST t|0}} of concrete, were sunk into the riverbed to support the construction.{{sfn|Jepson|Porges|2014}} The first caisson was started in September 1886 and it was not until January 1890 that both piers were complete. The reason for the long duration of the foundation works was the need to defer excavation of the second pier until the staging for the first pier had been removed to allow 160 feet of clear water-way for shipping.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cruttwell |first=George Edward Wilson |date=28 March 1893 |title=The Foundations of the River-Piers of Tower Bridge |journal=Minutes of the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers |volume=113 |issue=1893 |pages=117–136 |doi=10.1680/imotp.1893.20434 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/2245542 |access-date=13 June 2024 |archive-date=29 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929053428/https://zenodo.org/records/2245542 |url-status=live }}</ref>

More than {{cvt|11,000|LT|ST t|0}} of steel were used in the framework for the towers and walkways, which were then clad in [[Cornwall|Cornish]] [[granite]] and [[Portland stone]] to protect the underlying steelwork, and achieve the stipulation that the bridge should fit architecturally with the Tower of London.{{sfn|Jones|2005|p=285}}

Jones died in 1887, and Barry took over as architect. Barry later summarised the contributions to the construction of Tower Bridge: "Mr Fyson, who undertook much of the preparation of the detailed drawings; Mr Stevenson, who had been his assistant with the architectural work; and...most of all...Mr Cruttwell, the Resident Engineer, and Mr Homfray, who superintended the machinery."<ref name=":3" /> Stevenson replaced Jones's original brick façade with the more ornate [[Victorian era|Victorian]] [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic]] style, which made the bridge a distinctive landmark and was intended to harmonise the bridge with the nearby Tower of London.{{sfn|Tower Bridge|1994|p=47}}{{sfn|Roberts|2005|p=150}} The total cost of construction was £1,184,000<ref name=times_opening/>{{sfn|Tower Bridge|1994|p=47}} (equivalent to £{{Formatprice|{{Inflation|UK|1184000|1894|{{inflation-year|UK}}|r=-4}}}} in {{inflation-year|UK}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}

=== Opening ===
[[File: Opening of Tower Bridge 1895.jpg|thumb|right|1895 painting of the opening of Tower Bridge, [[William Lionel Wyllie]]]]
Tower Bridge was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince and [[Alexandra of Denmark|Princess of Wales]].{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=922}}{{sfn|Robins|2017|p=17}} The opening ceremony was attended by the [[Lord Chamberlain]], the [[Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire|Lord Carrington]] and the [[Home Secretary]], [[H. H. Asquith]].<ref name=times_opening/> It was reported that "few [pageants] have been more brilliant or will have a more abiding and historic interest" than the opening of Tower Bridge in the history of the City of London, and it was a "semi-State" occasion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 July 1894 |title=The New Tower Bridge – Opening By The Prince |work=The Standard |pages=3 }}</ref>

In addition to the official opening, the City of London Corporation gave an "entertainment", at a cost of £300, to 1,200 workmen and their wives. Edward Cruttwell, who had been in charge of the building of the bridge from the beginning, presided. After dinner, each workman was presented with a commemorative pipe and packet of tobacco, and each workman's wife with a box of sweetmeats.<ref name=":2" />

An Act of Parliament stipulated that a [[tug boat]] should be on station to assist vessels in danger when crossing the bridge, a requirement that remained in place until the 1960s.{{sfn|Robins|2017|p=17}}

The bridge connected Iron Gate, on the north bank of the river, with {{Not a typo|Horselydown}} Lane, on the south – now known as Tower Bridge Approach and [[Tower Bridge Road]], respectively.{{sfn|Tower Bridge|1994|p=47}} Until the bridge was opened, the [[Tower Subway]] – {{cvt|400|m|mi|order=flip}} to the west – was the shortest way to cross the river from [[Tower Hill]] to [[Tooley Street]] in [[Southwark]]. Opened in 1870, Tower Subway was among the world's earliest underground ("tube") railways, but it closed after just three months and was reopened as a tolled pedestrian foot tunnel. Once Tower Bridge was open, the majority of foot traffic transferred to using the bridge, as there was no toll to cross. Having lost most of its income, the tunnel was closed in 1898.{{sfn|Smith|2001|pp=22–23}}

The high-level open-air walkways between the towers gained a reputation for [[Prostitution in the United Kingdom|prostitutes]] and [[pickpocketing|pickpockets]]. Since they were only accessible by stairs, the walkways were seldom used by regular pedestrians and were closed in 1910.<ref name="walkway">{{cite news |title=Tower Bridge: fascinating facts and figures |first=Oliver |last=Smith |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/south-east/london-bridge/articles/Tower-Bridge-fascinating-facts-and-figures/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/south-east/london-bridge/articles/Tower-Bridge-fascinating-facts-and-figures/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=8 January 2018}}{{cbignore }}</ref>{{sfn|Rough Guides|1998|p=152}} The walkway reopened in 1982 as part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.<ref name="walkway"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/vertigo-calling-walkways-at-londons-tower-bridge-outfitted-with-glass |title=Vertigo calling: Walkways at London's Tower Bridge outfitted with glass floors |first=Matt |last=Hickman |work=Mother Nature Network |date=12 November 2014 |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024213535/https://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/vertigo-calling-walkways-at-londons-tower-bridge-outfitted-with-glass |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
[[File:London Blitz 791940.jpg|thumb|left|Tower Bridge during the [[The Blitz|first mass air raid]] on London, 7 September 1940]]
[[File:Tower Bridge - 1950.jpg|thumb|Tower Bridge – 1950, BW Lee]]
[[File:SHort Sunderland V DP198 201.A Tower Br 16.09.56 edited-3.jpg|thumb|A [[Short Sunderland]] of [[No. 201 Squadron RAF]] moored at Tower Bridge during the 1956 commemoration of the [[Battle of Britain]]]]

After its opening, the City of London provided some funding to the police to pay for the policing of Tower Bridge, under an informal "compact". The Corporation of London (Blackfriars and other Bridges) Act 1906 (6 EdwVII c.clxxx) formally placed the bridge under the City of London's policing jurisdiction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://democracy.cityoflondon.gov.uk/documents/s74250/Policing%20the%20Bridges%20-%20Appendix%201.pdf |title=Policing the Bridges and allocation of costs to the Bridge House Estates |publisher=City of London |author=P R E Double |date=September 2016 |access-date=31 January 2025}}</ref>

During the [[Second World War]], Tower Bridge was seen as a major transport link to the [[Port of London]], and consequently was a target for enemy action. In 1940, the high-level span took a direct hit, severing the hydraulic mechanism and taking the bridge out of action. In April 1941, a [[parachute mine]] exploded close to the bridge, causing serious damage to the bascule, towers, and engine room. In 1942, a third engine was installed in case the existing ones were damaged by enemy action.{{sfn|Milne|2020|p=153}} It was a 150&nbsp;[[horsepower|hp]] horizontal cross-compound engine, built by [[Vickers Armstrong Ltd.]] at their Elswick works in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was fitted with a [[flywheel]] having a {{convert|9|ft|m|adj=on}} diameter and weighing 9 tons, and was governed to a speed of 30 rpm. The engine became redundant when the rest of the system was modernised in 1974 and was donated to the [[Forncett Industrial Steam Museum]] by the [[City of London Corporation]].<ref name="Forncett">{{cite web |title=The Tower Bridge Engine |publisher=Forncett Industrial Steam Museum |url=http://oldenginehouse.users.btopenworld.com/towerb.htm |access-date=27 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225024729/http://oldenginehouse.users.btopenworld.com/towerb.htm |archive-date=25 February 2010 }}</ref>

The southern section of the bridge, in the [[London Borough of Southwark]], was [[Grade I listed]] on 6 December 1949.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1385980 |desc=Tower Bridge (that part that lies within the Borough of Southwark) |access-date=24 October 2019 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> The remainder of the bridge, in the [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets]], was listed on 27 September 1973.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1357515|desc=Tower Bridge (that part that lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets|access-date=24 October 2019|fewer-links=yes }}</ref>

On 30 December 1952, a number 78 double-decker bus was crossing Tower Bridge. The process of stopping traffic when the bridge was getting raised failed while a relief watchman was on duty.
The bus was near the edge of the south bascule when it started to rise. Driver [[Albert Gunter|Albert Edward Gunter]] (1906–1968) made a split-second decision to accelerate the bus, clearing a 1.8 m (6 ft) drop onto the north bascule, which had not started to rise. The conductor broke his leg and twelve of the twenty passengers aboard received minor injuries. The driver was later rewarded with a £10 bonus (about £246.81 in 2025) for his quick thinking.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1953-01-12/page/31/|title=The TIME Vault: January 12, 1953}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn7m8dmkglxo|title=The man who 'jumped' a double-decker bus over Tower Bridge's gap|date=30 December 2024|website=BBC News}}</ref>

In 1960, the upper bridges of the two pedestrian walkways that connected the two main towers were converted from being [[cantilever bridge]]s, projecting horizontally out into space, to [[suspension bridge]]s when suspension cables were added. This was to reinforce the strength of the walkways.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What type of bridge is Tower Bridge? |url=https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/what-type-of-bridge-is-tower-bridge |access-date=14 May 2024 |website=Tower Bridge |language=en |archive-date=14 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514131526/https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/discover/what-type-of-bridge-is-tower-bridge |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1974, the original operating mechanism was largely replaced by a new electro-hydraulic drive system, designed by Geoffrey Beresford Hartwell, of BHA Cromwell House, with the original final [[pinion]]s driven by modern [[hydraulic motor]]s.{{sfn|Weinreb|Hibbert|Keay|Keay|2008|p=923}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.phoenixhydraulics.co.uk/Blog/londons-tower-bridge |title=London's Tower Bridge |work=Phoenix Hydraulics |access-date=24 October 2014 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024184056/https://www.phoenixhydraulics.co.uk/Blog/londons-tower-bridge |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1982, the Tower Bridge Exhibition opened, housed in the bridge's twin towers, the long-closed high-level walkways, and the Victorian engine rooms. The latter still houses the original steam engines and some of the original [[hydraulic machinery]].<ref name=gbhmod>{{cite web |url=http://www.arbitrator-engineer-gbh.co.uk/#!firm/c1n8o |title=The Firm: BHA Cromwell House |publisher=G. M. Beresford Hartwell |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=19 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819105646/http://www.arbitrator-engineer-gbh.co.uk/#!firm/c1n8o |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=hartwell>{{cite web |last=Hartwell |first=Geoffrey |title=Tower Bridge, London |url=http://www.hartwell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tbpic.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208132600/http://www.hartwell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/tbpic.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2013 |access-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref><ref name="tbeabout">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.towerbridge.org.uk/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706024544/http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/about/ |archive-date=6 July 2015 |access-date=8 April 2024 |website=Tower Bridge |publisher= }}</ref>

===21st century===
The bridge closed for a month in 2000 to repair the bascules and perform other maintenance.<ref>{{cite news |last=Waller |first=Martin |title=Tower Bridge stays down |newspaper=The Times |date=12 September 2000 |page=31 |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0501407652/TTDA?u=kccl&sid=TTDA&xid=5b7637b1 |access-date=14 September 2020 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=29 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240929053454/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=TTDA&u=kccl&id=GALE%7CIF0501407652&v=2.1&it=r&sid=TTDA&asid=5b7637b1 |url-status=live }}</ref> A computer system was installed to control the raising and lowering of the bascules remotely. However, the system proved unreliable, resulting in the bridge being stuck in the open or closed positions on several occasions during 2005 until its sensors were replaced.<ref name=BBCstickFix />

In April 2008, authorities announced that the bridge would undergo a £4&nbsp;million refurbishment that would take four years to complete. The work entailed stripping existing paint down to bare metal and repainting in blue and white.<ref name=truecolours /><ref name="finishingtouches" /> Before this, the bridge's colour scheme dated from 1977, when it was painted red, white, and blue for [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]]'s [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Silver Jubilee]]. Its colours were subsequently restored to blue and white.<ref name=truecolours>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thetowerbridge.info/diary/tower-bridge-restored-to-true-colours.html |title=Tower Bridge restored to true colours |website=Tower Bridge Restoration |date=10 March 2010 |access-date=8 February 2017 |publisher=Harris Digital Productions |archive-date=18 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418064211/http://www.thetowerbridge.info/diary/tower-bridge-restored-to-true-colours.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="finishingtouches">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thetowerbridge.info/diary/finishing-touches-to-tower-bridge.html |title=Finishing touches to Tower Bridge |website=Tower Bridge Restoration |access-date=8 February 2017 |publisher=Harris Digital Productions |archive-date=18 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418080041/http://www.thetowerbridge.info/diary/finishing-touches-to-tower-bridge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Each section was enshrouded in scaffolding and plastic sheeting to prevent the old paint falling into the Thames and causing pollution. Starting in mid-2008, contractors worked on a quarter of the bridge at a time to minimise disruption, but some road closures were inevitable. The completed work should stand for 25 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tower Bridge to get £4m facelift |website=[[BBC News]] |date=7 April 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7335380.stm |access-date=8 April 2008 |archive-date=12 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412010948/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7335380.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The renovation of the walkway interior was completed in mid-2009. The renovation of the four suspension chains was completed in March 2010 using a state-of-the-art coating system requiring up to six different layers of paint.<ref name=truecolours /> A lighting system based on [[RGB LED]] [[luminaire]]s was installed, concealed within the bridge superstructure, and attached without drilling holes, owing to the bridge's Grade I listing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tower Bridge lighting |work=Interior Event & Exhibition Lighting Design scheme |publisher=ES Lighting Design |date=29 April 2009 |url=http://www.eslightingdesign.co.uk/commercial/london-tower-bridge.aspx |access-date=27 August 2009 |archive-date=11 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100911111602/http://eslightingdesign.co.uk/commercial/london-tower-bridge.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Chithrubar.jpg|thumb|Tower Bridge with Olympic Rings during the [[2012 London Olympics]]]]

On 8 July 2012, as part of the [[2012 Summer Olympics|London Olympics]], the west walkway was transformed into a {{convert|200|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} Live Music Sculpture by the British composer Samuel Bordoli. Thirty classical musicians were arranged along the length of the bridge {{convert|42|m|ft|0|order=flip}} above the Thames behind the Olympic rings. The sound travelled backward and forwards along the walkway, echoing the structure of the bridge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/latest-news/tower-bridge-londons-latest-venue/ |title=Tower Bridge is London's Latest Venue |website=Classic FM |access-date=28 May 2013 |archive-date=25 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725151304/http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/latest-news/tower-bridge-londons-latest-venue/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classical-music.com/news/tower-bridge-musical-instrument |title=Tower Bridge as a musical instrument |publisher=Classical-Music.com |access-date=28 May 2013 |archive-date=23 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223222339/http://www.classical-music.com/news/tower-bridge-musical-instrument |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Following the Olympics, the rings were removed from Tower Bridge and replaced by the [[Paralympic symbols#Current|emblem]] of the [[Paralympic Games]] for the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name=guardian-paraprep>{{cite news |title=London 2012: let the Paralympics preparations begin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/13/london-2012-paralympic-preparations-begin?newsfeed=true |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=18 August 2012 |first=Alexandra |last=Topping |date=13 August 2012 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502185715/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/13/london-2012-paralympic-preparations-begin?newsfeed=true |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, Tower Bridge was closed to all road traffic from 1 October to 30 December.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/tower-bridge-closure |title=Tower Bridge closure |publisher=Transport for London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011071655/https://tfl.gov.uk/status-updates/major-works-and-events/tower-bridge-closure |archive-date=11 October 2016 }}</ref> This was to allow structural maintenance work to take place on the timber decking, lifting mechanism and waterproofing the brick arches on the bridge's approaches. During this, the bridge was still open to waterborne traffic. It was open to pedestrians for all but three weekends when a free ferry service was in operation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37529331 |title=Tower Bridge closes until December for maintenance work |website=[[BBC News]] |date=1 October 2016 |access-date=28 January 2020 |archive-date=29 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200129024802/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37529331 |url-status=live }}</ref>