Millennium Bridge: deck to be lifted for structural inspection

It is 10 years since the bridge finally opened to the public after work to cure the famous 'wobble'.

The Millennium Bridge is owned and maintained at no direct cost to taxpayers by Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust controlled by the City of London Corporation. An inspection is carried out every two years.

The bridge will be closed to pedestrians between 10am and 4pm from Monday 22 to Friday 26 October.

The City corporation says that the bridge needs to be closed because the deck of the bridge will be lifted to allow inspection of all parts of the structure.

Specialist rope access teams and inspection engineers will climb out on the towers, cables and bridge piers to inspect the bridge. A survey team will also check the profile of the support cables.

This year experts will also be carrying out testing of the dampers which were installed in 2002.

At the same time as the structural inspection, an electrical inspection will be carried out, the bridge will be cleaned and some surveying and maintenance work will be done.

"The bridge will open cleaner, brighter and fit to continue service to pedestrians in the local area," said a City of London spokesman.