London Millennium Bridge: Famous crossing to close for three weeks as it undergoes revamp and deep clean

One of London’s most famous bridges is to close while it undergoes a major revamp and deep clean.

The Millennium Bridge, which connects St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London with the Tate Modern on the south bank of the River Thames, will be shut to the public from October 14. It will reopen on November 5.

The City Bridge Foundation (CBF), which owns and maintains five bridges in the capital, said this so the synthetic membrane separating the bridge’s steel structure from its aluminium bridge deck can be replaced.

Work will be ongoing 24 hours a day, though no power tools will be used between 9pm and 8am.

CBF chairman Giles Shilson said:​“Since it opened to mark the new Millennium, the bridge has become a much loved and very well-used fixture on the London landscape, but it is starting to show its age.

“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.

“We’re sorry for any inconvenience but hope people will understand we do need to do this work, and will see the benefits after we give the bridge a much-needed deep clean that will leave it looking as good as new.”

The Millennium Bridge was opened in 2000. It had to be temporarily shut soon after, with the issue resulting in it becoming known as the “wobbly bridge”.