|The Millennium Bridge is London's first crossing of the Thames exclusively for pedestrians and the first new bridge in central London since the Tower Bridge opened in 1894. It connects one cherished landmark, St. Paul's Cathedral, with Southwark and important new buildings to the south--the Tate Modern and the reconstruction of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. It is a shallow suspension bridge, 330 metres (1155 feet) long and only 4 metres wide, constructed with two 'Y' frames and eight cables, four to each side.|
Left: looking south; center: looking toward St. Paul's Cathedral
|The bridge first opened in June 2001. During the first days large numbers of people crossed the bridge producing a pendulum-like sway. The bridge was closed after three days only to be reopened in February 2002 after research and testing resolved the problems. Dampers were installed under the deck and between the deck and the river piers to reduce the sway.|
Looking toward the Tate Modern.
Left and center: views south (with the reconstructed Shakespeare's Globe--center); right: stairway up to the bridge entrance, looking up toward St. Paul's Cathedral
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