Tsamouris, the Fastener Specialists©
In October 2023, London’s Tower Bridge underwent an important maintenance operation, as four massive
nose bolts, each measuring two meters long, were replaced for the first time in decades.
These bolts play a vital role in locking the bridge’s moving parts, known as bascules, in place when lowered
to allow traffic and pedestrians to cross the 129-year-old structure.
The City Bridge Foundation, a 900-year-old charity responsible for maintaining Tower Bridge and four other
Thames crossings, carried out the complex operation during overnight closures to minimize disruption to
the 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles that use the bridge daily.
At Tsamouris, we understand the critical role that fasteners play in ensuring the structural integrity of high availability
structures with moving parts like the Tower Bridge — it is inevitable that we will see wear and
tear, but carrying out planned work like this avoids the need for more disruptive and costly repairs further
down the line.