Millennium Bridge to undergo £3.5m refurbishment

Ben Lynch

Local Democracy Reporting Service

The work on the Millennium Bridge is estimated to cost between £2.75m and £3.5m

Getty Images A view of the Millennium Bridge in London, spanning the River Thames under an overcast sky. The steel suspension bridge leads towards St. Paul's Cathedral, which stands prominently in the background. — The work on the Millennium Bridge is estimated to cost between £2.75m and £3.5m

The Millennium Bridge is to undergo a refurbishment worth up to £3.5m with work expected to begin in the spring.

According to a tender published by the City of London Corporation, the City Bridge Foundation is looking for a contractor to resurface the crossing’s deck, repaint the steelwork, and re-tension the suspension cables.

The 25-year-old bridge famously closed soon after its opening for being too wobbly.

“Millennium Bridge marks its 25th birthday this year and with thousands of people walking over it every day, that inevitably takes its toll,” a City Bridge Foundation spokesperson said.

The bridge’s June 2000 opening was part of projects in London to mark the new millennium, linking St Paul’s Cathedral with the Tate Modern Gallery on the south side of the Thames.

It was quickly closed due to excessive swaying, earning it the nickname the “wobbly bridge”, and opened again in February 2002 once work had been done to stabilise it.

Almost a quarter of a century on, the aluminium bridge deck is “beginning to become worn”, the spokesperson said.

“Meaning it is now smoother and more slippery than it used to be, so we need to act now to ensure the bridge remains safe for people to use,” they said.

“To ensure the work is as sustainable as possible, we’re asking potential contractors to remove, clean and replace all the existing aluminium bridge deck panels, which will be covered with a non-slip coating.”

The bridge has been a popular pedestrian route over the Thames since it opened

Getty Images Pedestrians walking across the Millennium Bridge on a cloudy day, with the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral partially shrouded in mist in the background. People in various winter attire. — The bridge has been a popular pedestrian route over the Thames since it opened

The tender, which closed last week, listed three key elements: resurfacing the aluminium desk to improve slip resistance, repainting the steelwork, and re-tensioning the suspension cables, which “has not been completed before and will restore the profile of the central span following the initial relaxation of the cables and abutments”.

It also stated it was important to minimise disruption to users of the bridge while work was carried out but it was for the contactors to pitch to the City Bridge Foundation how they would achieve this.

The contract is valued at between £2.75m and £3.5m.

It is unknown whether any temporary closures will be required, with further details to be revealed once a contractor has been appointed.

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