London’s Millennium Bridge has closed for three weeks to allow urgent repairs and cleaning.
City Bridge Foundation, a charity that looks after London’s major Thames crossings said part of the structure had started to degrade.
A layer of membrane needs to be replaced while the bridge will also be cleaned up during the closure.
The footbridge links St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London with the Tate Modern on the South Bank.
It opened in 2000 to great fanfare but people noticed it was “wobbly” especially in the wind and it was closed.
It reopened in 2002 and has had a clean bill of health since them.
Following the most recent round of repairs the bridge is set to reopen on November 5 at the latest.
City Bridge Foundation says the membrane separates the bridge’s steel structure from its aluminium bridge deck.
Chairman Shilson, said the bridge was “starting to show its age”.
He added: “The separation layer under the bridge deck has started to degrade, which means it’s having an adverse effect on the bridge deck and needs addressing urgently.
“Replacing this layer is a time-consuming process, meaning we have no option but to close the bridge for three weeks and to work round the clock to get it done as quickly as possible.”
He said the bridge would also benefit from a much-needed deep clean “will leave it looking as good as new”.
