The Millennium Bridge in London is getting a £3.5 million makeover. Work is expected to kick off in the coming weeks, with details on closures to follow.
London: The Millennium Bridge is about to get a facelift. They’re planning a £3.5 million refurbishment, and work should start soon.
They haven’t said yet if the bridge will close during the work. But once they pick a contractor, we’ll know more about any potential closures.
The City Bridge Foundation is looking for someone to handle the job. They want to resurface the deck, repaint the steel, and tighten the suspension cables.
They’re aiming to start around February 10, and the project will last about six months. But a spokesperson mentioned it might actually kick off in spring.
The Millennium Bridge opened in June 2000, connecting St Paul’s Cathedral to the Tate Modern. It was closed shortly after due to swaying, earning it the nickname “wobbly bridge.”
After some stabilization work, it reopened in February 2002. Now, they’re looking to refurbish it again to keep it safe for all the foot traffic.
The tender for the project just closed, and it includes resurfacing the deck for better grip, repainting, and re-tensioning the cables. This will help restore the bridge’s shape.
They want to minimize disruption while the work is going on. Contractors are encouraged to find ways to keep the bridge open as much as possible.
The contract value is between £2.75 million and £3.5 million. With the bridge turning 25 this year, it’s seen a lot of foot traffic, which has worn it down.
The deck is getting slippery, so they need to act fast. They plan to clean and replace the aluminum panels with a non-slip coating.
They’ll also repaint the metal parts and tighten the cables. Once a contractor is chosen, they’ll share more details about the timeline and any closures.
The City Bridge Foundation has been around for 900 years, managing five Thames crossings. The City of London Corporation is its sole trustee.
