London Bridge Gates – Safety & Opening Protocols

Opening Choreography

• Advance Notices: River schedules booked in advance.
• Road Barriers: Lowered to clear vehicles.
• Pedestrian Gates: Secured; marshals guide visitors.
• Signals & Bells: Warn of imminent lift.

Safety Layers

Image Highlights

Timeline of a Lift (Indicative)

1. River vessel confirms booking window on approach.
2. Control room arms signals; road barriers lower.
3. Pedestrian marshals sweep the deck; announcements play.
4. Bascule area cleared; interlocks verify safe state.
5. Hydraulics engage; bridge raises; vessel transits.
6. Descent, interlocks clear; barriers open; normal traffic resumes.

Roles & Redundancies

• Control: procedures, comms, overrides.
• Marshals: physical checks, public guidance.
• Interlocks: prevent actuation with unsafe states.
• Redundancy: manual overrides and abort criteria in adverse weather.

Weather & Exceptional Conditions

High winds, reduced visibility, or unusual river flow can delay lifts. Safety and navigational clarity take precedence.

Bottom Line

Gates coordinate a moment of transformation: the road becomes river, then returns.