London’s Tower Bridge gets stuck open for second time in a year

Since 1976, the bridge’s two arms, or bascules, have been operated by engines powered by oil and electricity

London’s famous Tower Bridge got stuck in its open position for the second time in a year due to a technical fault on Monday, leading to tail-backs of road traffic trying to cross the River Thames. The bridge, which allows boats to pass underneath by raising the road which crosses it, got stuck shortly before 2:45pm (1345GMT), a spokeswoman for the City of London police force said. Since 1976, the bridge’s two arms, or bascules, have been operated by engines powered by oil and electricity, replacing the original steam-powered ones that dated back to the 19th century.