Londons Millennium Bridge - Case Study Example

Seeking to understand the development of London's Millennium Bridge, this research paper will provide a brief description of the history and development of London's Millennium Bridge. Following this, we will provide a survey of the literature on the project, with a particular emphasis on the sustainability of the project today and into the future. A short analysis of the costs, benefits and risks associated with the project will follow and we will conclude with a broad overview of the issues studied with respect to one of the most controversial construction projects in London in recent memory, the building of the Millennium Bridge (Architects, 2000; Steves, 2006).

Opening in the summer of 2000, London's Millennium Bridge was welcomed as an architectural wonder but also received its fair share of controversy in the initial days after its unveiling. As a steel suspension bridge which crosses the river Thames, London's Millennium Bridge provides a pedestrian link to the City of London and Backside. Competition for the erection of a major bridge began in earnest four years prior to the unveiling and was the subject of a competition created by the Southwark city council.

With a total length of 235 meters, the winning entry was the "Blade of Light" design by architects Arup, Foster and Partners in conjunction with Sir Anthony Caro. This bridge received a fair bit of controversy, when after its unveiling the bridge reportedly rocked back and forth and scared pedestrians who were crossing it. It subsequently was nicknamed the Wobbly Bridge and was closed for two years following this unexpected occurrence. The following will chart the development of this majestic, yet controversial bridge.

Once a decision had been made as to would obtain the contract for London's Millennial Bridge, Blade of Light architects Arup, Foster and Partners in conjunction with Sir Anthony Caro began construction in earnest. While development began earlier, construction started in 1998 and continued up until the official opening on June 2000. This was London's first new Thames crossing in more than a century and London's Millennial Bridge was built to the tune of '18m. Accordingly, nearly half of the funds were donated by the Millennium Commission.

The specifications of the bridge included a total length of 330m, a width of 4m, a handrail height of 1.2m and the height above river at high tide standing at 10.8m. Created from concrete and steel piers with cables stretching 120mm of locked coil, the decking was in aluminum while the bridge's handrail was created from bead blast stainless steel (BBC, 2009). Opened by the Queen on June 10, 20001, the Millennial Bridge used"lateral suspension" - an engineering innovation that allows suspension bridges to be built without tall supporting columns.

The designers predicted it would be a "blade of light" across the Thames, "an absolute statement of our capabilities at the beginning of the 21st century". Within days they closed it to the public (BBC, 2009). Closed for two years, the modifications undertaken between 2000 and 2002