London Bridge Type – Bascule + Suspension Walkways

Classification

• Bascule Roadway: Two leaves that lift.
• High-Level Walkways: Suspension-like support for pedestrian access.
• Masonry Towers: Architectural envelope around steel cores.

Why It’s Unique

It merges moving roadway engineering with civic architecture, becoming both machine and monument.

Image Highlights

Comparison at a Glance

1. Bascule

   • Mechanism: Rotating leaves with counterweights
   • Example Traits: Fast openings, balanced torque

2. Lift

   • Mechanism: Vertical deck lift by towers
   • Example Traits: Tall vessel clearance, heavier towers

3. Swing

   • Mechanism: Rotates about a vertical axis
   • Example Traits: Wide fairway, turning clearance

4. Suspension

   • Mechanism: Deck hung from cables
   • Example Traits: Long spans, flexible deck

Load Paths

• Roadway live loads travel into steel bascules and down the towers.
• High-level walkways act as ties and viewing routes; their support resembles suspension behavior.
• Masonry expresses identity while the steel core does the work.

Glossary

• Bascule: A leaf that pivots about a fixed axis, typically counterweighted.
• Accumulator: Device storing hydraulic energy via a weighted ram or gas charge.

Bottom Line

London Bridge is a bascule bridge with elevated walkways, encased in stone—an engineering sculpture.