A design was not approved until 1884, when it was decided to build a bascule bridge. More than fifty designs were submitted, including one from civil engineer Sir Joseph Bazalgette, which was rejected because of a lack of sufficient headroom. Ī Special Bridge or Subway Committee chaired by Sir Albert Joseph Altman was formed in 1877 to find a solution.

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. In the late 19th century, commercial development in the East End of London increased, leading to demand for a new river crossing downstream of London Bridge. Several stunt pilots have flown underneath the bridge, including the pioneering Francis McClean. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (0.80 km) upstream, which has led to a popular urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge. Tower Bridge has become a recognisable London landmark. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge's twin towers, high-level walkways and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition. The bridge is part of the A100 London Inner Ring Road and thus the boundary of the London congestion charge zone, and remains an important traffic route with 40,000 crossings every day. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972. The bridge is 800 feet (240 m) in length and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers connected at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and a central pair of bascules that can open to allow shipping. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales in 1894. The bridge was constructed to give better access to the East End of London, which had expanded its commercial potential in the 19th century.

The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust founded in 1282. Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 18, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry.

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