Converging
The Millennium Bridge was the first new bridge to be built over the Thames in London for more than 100 years. It was the result of a 1996 competition and it was won by the 'blade of light' design envisioned by Arup (engineers), Foster and Partners (architects) and Sir Anthony Caro (sculptor).
It was officially opened by the Queen on 10 June 2000. Around 80,000 people crossed the bridge on its opening day, with around 2,000 on the bridge at any one time. People felt the bridge begin to sway and twist in regular oscillations. Feeling unsteady, the pedestrians altered their gait to the same lateral rhythm as the bridge. The adjusted footsteps just magnified the motion: the more it happened, the more people responded to the movement; and the worse it got. Two days later the bridge was closed until the problem was fixed but it’s known as the Wobbly Bridge since.
It reopened for good on 27 February 2002 and the best time to catch it without people crossing it is at sunrise, albeit the occasional photographer will be desperately trying to find a new angle.
Converging
The Millennium Bridge was the first new bridge to be built over the Thames in London for more than 100 years. It was the result of a 1996 competition and it was won by the 'blade of light' design envisioned by Arup (engineers), Foster and Partners (architects) and Sir Anthony Caro (sculptor).
It was officially opened by the Queen on 10 June 2000. Around 80,000 people crossed the bridge on its opening day, with around 2,000 on the bridge at any one time. People felt the bridge begin to sway and twist in regular oscillations. Feeling unsteady, the pedestrians altered their gait to the same lateral rhythm as the bridge. The adjusted footsteps just magnified the motion: the more it happened, the more people responded to the movement; and the worse it got. Two days later the bridge was closed until the problem was fixed but it’s known as the Wobbly Bridge since.
It reopened for good on 27 February 2002 and the best time to catch it without people crossing it is at sunrise, albeit the occasional photographer will be desperately trying to find a new angle.