The Millennium Bridge

Linking the magnificent St. Paul's Cathedral on the north side, across the Thames to the Tate Modern on the south, is the remarkable Millennium Bridge.

The design was determined by an international design competition which was open to architects, artists and engineers from across the world. The competition was won by sculptor Anthony Caro and engineers Ove Arup and company, who worked with renowned architects Foster & Partners to create the iconic structure.

The bridge was to represent a collaboration between art, design and engineering to reflect London in the new millennium, and also to symbolize the strengthening relationship between the financial community and the arts on the South bank.

The bridge was completed in June 2000, though somewhat embarrassingly had to be closed again shortly afterward as the bridge swayed unnervingly in the wind under the pressure of synchronised pedestrian footfall! Dampeners were installed to counteract the wobble and the bridge was reopened in February 2002.

The bridge is one hundred and forty, four meters long and is supported by eight cables that are 120mm thick. When the bridge is fully loaded each cable takes a strain of over 2000 tones. Over the span of the whole bridge the cables only dip two meters providing for uninterrupted views of the Thames for those crossing.

The millennium bridge stands as a testimony to modern design and as such it feels befitting that the structure does link to the symbol of modern design, The Tate Modern.