NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1553, 7 September 1886, Page 4

NEW LONDON BRIDGE.

On the afternoon of Juue 21st the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of the new Tower Bridge, which is about to be built by the Corporation of. the City of London, at a cost of L 750.000. The Corporation has for centuries been in possession of estates .-chargeable with the maintenance of Loudon Bridge, and the incomes arising from these estates have by careful management rapidly grown in amount. - By means of these estates and gifts that have accrued to them for similar purposes the Corporation has been enabled to rebuild London and Blackfriars Bridges, and to acquire and free from toll Southwark Bridge, The new bridge, to which the designation Tower Bridge*has been given, is to bo built from the funds obtained by the application of the surplus rental of what are called the Bridge House Estates, and, being erected east of Loudon Bridge, will supply a want that has long been felt by dwellers on both sides of the Thames in these densely-inhabited district*, and will greatly relieve the congestion of traffic, which is now served inadequately by ferry. The bridge is designed on the Bascule system. Two massive lowers of quasi-Qothic character, with turrets and tapering roofs, will support the bridge, which will open at the Centre, and be lifted, drawbridge fashion, on either side by machinery. High over all will be a fixed footway, ■bout 130 feet above Trinity high-water mark. The largest vessels will be able to pass under this. In the towers on elihef side Ijfts will be provided, as well as an internal staircase, for the use of foot-passengers. These lifts communicate immediately with the upper footway, so that the pedestrian traffic will never be interrupted. The centre leaves of the bridge when open will be raised flush with the piers, thus leaving a clear opening or freeway of 200 feet for shipping. The approach roads and footway will have a width of 60 feet, and the centre span will be nearly o 0 feet wide. Buspension rods will carry the two land spans north and sooth respectively of the towers, which, by the by, are to be of red brick with stone dressings, and i will rest oa grey granite piers up to the parapet line. The lime occuppied in Opening and in closing it for the passage ot vessels need not bo more than five 'minutes. A vast concourse of people witnessed the ceremony, and the route from Westminister was gaily decorated with flags and devices.