Tower Bridge, London – IKO Permatrack
Project description
The bridge was closed in September 2016 for three months while necessary repairs were made to the lifting sections, walkways and approaches.
Contractor Infallible Systems of South East London chose the IKO Permatrack Solution to renovate the walkways and tower bases. Existing mastic asphalt was removed and replaced with an IKO Permatrack Bridge Surfacing System over mastic asphalt waterproofing.
Mastic asphalt provides a hard, durable and long lasting material for pedestrians without joints and no trip hazards.
John Chapman of Infallible Systems explains: “We’ve been IKO customers since we were founded more than 30 years ago. The product is excellent, the after-service is fantastic and the Technical Team’s help with the initial spec is invaluable.
“The high-profile job was completed a week ahead of schedule, allowing the bridge to re-open before Christmas.”
History behind the location
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London built in 1886–1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, with more than 21,000 vehicles and 40,000 people using the bridge every day.
The bridge consists of two bridge towers tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal tension forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers.
The vertical components of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers.
The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge’s present colour scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee.
