On March 16, 1973, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the current London Bridge, a prestressed concrete box girder structure. The bridge, replacing a 19th-century predecessor that was sold and moved to Arizona, was constructed between 1967 and 1972 while traffic continued, and it serves as a key crossing connecting the City of London with Southwark.
Key Facts About the March 16
Opening:
- Official Opening: Queen Elizabeth II opened the new bridge on March 16, 1973.
- The Bridge's Design: The current, present-day London Bridge is a concrete and
steel box girder bridge designed by Lord Holford and engineered by Mott,
Hay and Anderson.
- The Predecessor: The previous 1831 London Bridge was sold for £1 million,
dismantled, and rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
- Bridge Maintenance: The bridge is maintained by Bridge House
Estates, a charitable body.
The date holds significance as
the inauguration of the modern structure that commuters use today, which spans
approximately 269 meters over the Thames.
