Thames Barrier. Thames Barrier in London Thames Barrier

The Thames Barrier is a grandiose structure that protects London from floods. In the 20th century, floods with fatalities struck the British capital twice, in 1928 and 1953. The British decided that it was no longer possible to endure the violence of the elements.

For centuries, London was vulnerable to flooding due to storm surge from the North Sea. In such cases, a tidal wave moves across the sea, the pressure of which increases in the English Channel, then at the mouth of the Thames. In the spring the surge may coincide with the seasonal flood, and this will certainly mean flooding of London.

Let's see what we've come up with to combat this...

After the 1953 flood, which killed 307 people, the community agreed on the need for a protective barrier. At risk lay 340 square kilometers of land with half a million buildings and almost a hundred railway stations. 1.25 million people lived here. The possible damage from a catastrophic flood was estimated at a monstrous amount: 30 billion pounds sterling.

In 1972, the decision was made to build the Barrier. Its concept was proposed by engineer Charles Reginald Draper. Back in 1950, as an eighteen-year-old boy, he built a working model using the principle of an ordinary brass gas tap. Testing has proven the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the design.

On 8 May 1984, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Thames Barrier. It spans a river 520 meters wide: futuristic-looking sparkling structures, each as tall as a five-story building, divide the flow into four 61-meter sections and two 30-meter navigable spans. These openings contain steel rotating segments that normally lie on the river bottom. If necessary, segments weighing 3,700 tons synchronously rotate 90 degrees, reliably blocking the flow.

Time has shown that the Barrier is vital for London: the frequency of floods is increasing all the time. In the first five years, the structure was used only four times. But in 2001 alone it had to be raised 15 times, in 2003 - 19 times, in 2007 - 11. It is believed that by 2050 the protective structure will be turned on up to 75 times a year.

Crowds of tourists come to see the Barrier. A working model of the structure is shown in the small Education and Information Center. With some luck, you can see the work of the Barrier itself - it is checked once a month.

On the north bank of the Thames, the Thames Barrier Park is adjacent to the structure - an excellent example of the renovation of a ruined area. Previously, here, at the Royal Docks, there was a "dirty" production of sleepers and telegraph poles. In 1994, a plan was adopted to transform the territory into one of the best green places in London, and an international competition was announced. And already in 2000, a magnificent park with fountains, gardens, groves and flower meadows opened here.

The barrier is made up of 9 steel gates blocking the river 520 meters wide. When open, the gate lies flat on the seabed, allowing the river to flow freely and allowing vessels of all sizes to pass through. When closed, the gate moves upward until it completely blocks the river. The gate is hollow inside and made of 1.6-inch thick steel. Each door is 61 meters long and weighs 3,200 tons. The gate fills with water as it sinks and empties as it rises from the river.

Flooding has been a problem in London for centuries. The threat has been increasing over time due to a slow but continuous rise in flood levels and the UK's slow "subsidence" of up to 5cm per 100 years caused by post-glacial recovery. The 1928 Thames flood killed 14 people and 307 people died after the 1953 flood.

Construction of the Thames Barrier began in 1974, but was officially opened a decade later. The barrier was originally designed to operate until 2030, but recent analysis suggests it will provide sufficient protection until 2060-70.

And in January 2014, the Thames Barrier was put into operation in London. The UK Meteorological Service on Saturday January 4 warned of increased storm winds and the threat of abnormally high tidal waves.

Sea storms were then raging off the coast of the British counties of Cornwall and Devon, as well as in Wales in the southwest of Great Britain. Three-meter waves hit the embankment of the Welsh resort town of Aberystwyth, washing away the slabs with which it was paved. About 100 people living in houses on the embankment were evacuated; Dozens of shops and hotels located by the sea are flooded.

The Thames Barrier is the second largest movable safety barrier (the first largest is located in the Netherlands). Since its construction, the barrier has been blocked 119 times.

The Thames Barriers have come under record strain over the past two months. How do they work?

In December, the Environment Department published a diagram of what London would look like if sea levels continued to rise without barriers. The Houses of Parliament, the O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, as well as the areas of Southwark, the Isle of Dogs, Whitechapel and West Ham would be under water. The Thames Barrier was built in 1982 in the western part of the capital, in the Woolwich area. Its function is to protect the center of London with an area of ​​48 square meters. miles (125 sq. km.) from floods caused by tidal waves.

This is what London would have looked like during a flood without the flood barrier.

Now, due to heavy rainfall, there is a danger that a large amount of water will flow from the sea into the river, and the western part of the capital will suffer from flooding. To prevent this, one of the barrier's caretakers, Edmond Ford, said the barrier is being used at full capacity. Since December 6, it has already been closed 28 times. This is one fifth of all the times the barrier has been closed - in total it has been closed 150 times - since it was put into operation.

There were years when the barrier was not used at all. The barrier's closure in December 2012 was the first since March 2010. The barrier, with 10 steel locks, is 520 meters (1,700 ft) high. When open, the gates of the locks lie on the bottom of the river; when closed, they rise until they completely block the river.

The four main gates are 61.5 meters (200 feet) long and each weighs 3,000 tons. The barrier is closed immediately after low tide, creating a “reservoir” that will be filled with water from the river. It takes 75-90 minutes to close the barrier, from the start of closing the outer gate to the complete closure of the intermediate gate.

• Open position- The Thames flows freely through the locks, ships pass through the locks.
• Closed position- a steel wall blocks the river in its upper reaches, preventing water from flowing to the capital
• Intermediate position- allows a controlled amount of water to pass under the lock into the Thames

If there were no barrier, the flow of sea water would rush to the mouth of the Thames, into London, preventing the normal flow of the river. Coupled with heavy rains, this would lead to flooding. The barrier protects the city from floods. Closed floodgates hold back the river until high tide. The keepers wait until the water level on both sides of the barrier equalizes (becomes the same), then the sluice gate opens and the water flows out. Water cannot overflow over the barrier because there is a margin of space.

The barrier closes in three cases: in the presence of a high storm surge from the North Sea, high tides and excessive river flow. The barrier is currently closing due to the large amount of water flowing down the Thames. Mr Ford says the main reason I am closing the barrier is to lower the river level on the other side of Teddington Dam.

What is the use of a barrier? Mr Ford said: “We are lowering the level inch by inch. This can be felt up the Thames in the area of ​​Moseley - which is 12 miles from central London. This area is especially affected by the tide. A few inches may not seem like much, but it can be the difference between water staying at ground level or flowing into the house.”

The barrier closed at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday to reopen with high tide. Warden Ford believes it will close again on Wednesday. Barrier workers predict the weather will worsen, according to readings from instruments used to predict storms.

High tide is expected on Wednesday. Throughout almost its entire history, London did not have a protective barrier. In 1928, the Thames flooded between the City and Southwark to the east and between Putney and Hammersmith to the west of the river, killing 14 people. According to modern sources, the water level in the streets reached 4 feet (1.2 meters).

1928: London's last Thames flood

In 1953, the flow of water from the North Sea led to the death of one person in London and flooding in the Silverton area, prompting the creation of a special protective mechanism. The creation of the barrier began in 1974, and 10 years later its grand opening took place. The barrier should last until 2030. Recent studies have shown that even with sea levels rising as a result of expected climate change, the barrier will provide reliable protection until 2060-2070.

By the way, this photo, as suggested in the comments, is not entirely on topic. This is what it's about:

The head of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster, with the support and assistance of colleagues from Halcrow and Volterra, presented to the public perhaps his most ambitious concept - the Thames Hub infrastructure plan.
The project's subtitle can be translated as "An Integral Vision for Britain." The main ideas contained in this work are as follows. The infrastructure of Foggy Albion is outdated and requires reorganization. In the context of further globalization of the economy and population growth, high-quality infrastructure can become a serious competitive advantage of the state.

Foster proposes to create a giant “spinal cord” or “ridge” (it’s called the Spine), passing through the entire country and combining transport, information and energy flows. The most important object of the “ridge” will be the Thames Hub, a giant transport and logistics hub, including air, river, sea and rail connections.

The project involves the construction of a four-track Orbital Rail high-speed train line, which will connect all radial lines of the London Underground; river ports in the Thames Delta; a tunnel connecting London to the hub; "Estuary" airport (capacity - 150 million passengers per year); a logistics matrix linking river ports with the harbors of Southampton and Liverpool; information storage centers and high-speed Internet networks and so on.

Lord Foster is convinced that a hub that connects the country directly with European markets will be the key to the UK's future prosperity. He is also supported by renowned economist Bridget Rosewell, chairman of Volterra Consulting and co-founder of the Thames Estuary Research and Development Company (TESTRAD).
Official website of the architectural bureau: fosterandpartners.com

The Thames Barrier is located downstream of central London, on the east side of the capital at Woolwich. This is the second largest such structure in the world, after the Oosterscheldekering barrier in the Netherlands. The Thames Barrier was built in 1982 to prevent tidal waves and storm surges from the North Sea from flooding most of Greater London's eastern communities. The barrier is made up of 9 steel gates blocking the river 520 meters wide. When open, the gate lies flat on the seabed, allowing the river to flow freely and allowing vessels of all sizes to pass through. When closed, the gate moves upward until it completely blocks the river. The gate is hollow inside and made of 1.6-inch thick steel. Each door is 61 meters long and weighs 3,200 tons. The gate fills with water as it sinks and empties as it rises from the river.

Flooding has been a problem in London for centuries. The threat has been increasing over time due to the slow but continuous rise in flood levels and the slow "subsidence" of the UK - up to 5cm per 100 years - caused by post-glacial recovery. The 1928 Thames flood killed 14 people and 307 people died after the 1953 flood.

Construction of the Thames Barrier began in 1974, but was officially opened a decade later. The barrier was originally designed to operate until 2030, but recent analysis suggests it will provide sufficient protection until 2060-70.

The Thames Barrier is a grandiose structure that protects London from floods. In the 20th century, floods with fatalities struck the British capital twice, in 1928 and 1953. The British decided that it was no longer possible to endure the violence of the elements.

For centuries, London was vulnerable to flooding due to storm surge from the North Sea. In such cases, a tidal wave moves across the sea, the pressure of which increases in the English Channel, then at the mouth of the Thames. In the spring the surge may coincide with the seasonal flood, and this will certainly mean flooding of London.

Let's see what we've come up with to combat this...

After the 1953 flood, which killed 307 people, the community agreed on the need for a protective barrier. At risk lay 340 square kilometers of land with half a million buildings and almost a hundred railway stations. 1.25 million people lived here. The possible damage from a catastrophic flood was estimated at a monstrous amount: 30 billion pounds sterling.

In 1972, the decision was made to build the Barrier. Its concept was proposed by engineer Charles Reginald Draper. Back in 1950, as an eighteen-year-old boy, he built a working model using the principle of an ordinary brass gas tap. Testing has proven the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the design.

On 8 May 1984, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Thames Barrier. It spans a river 520 meters wide: futuristic-looking sparkling structures, each as tall as a five-story building, divide the flow into four 61-meter sections and two 30-meter navigable spans. These openings contain steel rotating segments that normally lie on the river bottom. If necessary, segments weighing 3,700 tons synchronously rotate 90 degrees, reliably blocking the flow.

Time has shown that the Barrier is vital for London: the frequency of floods is increasing all the time. In the first five years, the structure was used only four times. But in 2001 alone it had to be raised 15 times, in 2003 - 19 times, in 2007 - 11. It is believed that by 2050 the protective structure will be turned on up to 75 times a year.

Crowds of tourists come to see the Barrier. A working model of the structure is shown in the small Education and Information Center. With some luck, you can see the work of the Barrier itself - it is checked once a month.

On the north bank of the Thames, the Thames Barrier Park is adjacent to the structure - an excellent example of the renovation of a ruined area. Previously, here, at the Royal Docks, there was a "dirty" production of sleepers and telegraph poles. In 1994, a plan was adopted to transform the territory into one of the best green places in London, and an international competition was announced. And already in 2000, a magnificent park with fountains, gardens, groves and flower meadows opened here.

The barrier is made up of 9 steel gates blocking the river 520 meters wide. When open, the gate lies flat on the seabed, allowing the river to flow freely and allowing vessels of all sizes to pass through. When closed, the gate moves upward until it completely blocks the river. The gate is hollow inside and made of 1.6-inch thick steel. Each door is 61 meters long and weighs 3,200 tons. The gate fills with water as it sinks and empties as it rises from the river.

Flooding has been a problem in London for centuries. The threat has been increasing over time due to the slow but continuous rise in flood levels and the UK's slow "subsidence" of up to 5cm per 100 years caused by post-glacial recovery. The 1928 Thames flood killed 14 people and 307 people died after the 1953 flood.

Construction of the Thames Barrier began in 1974, but was officially opened a decade later. The barrier was originally designed to operate until 2030, but recent analysis suggests it will provide sufficient protection until 2060-70.

And in January 2014, the Thames Barrier was put into operation in London. The UK Meteorological Service on Saturday January 4 warned of increased storm winds and the threat of abnormally high tidal waves.

Sea storms were then raging off the coast of the British counties of Cornwall and Devon, as well as in Wales in the southwest of Great Britain. Three-meter waves hit the embankment of the Welsh resort town of Aberystwyth, washing away the slabs with which it was paved. About 100 people living in houses on the embankment were evacuated; Dozens of shops and hotels located by the sea are flooded.

The Thames Barrier is the second largest movable protective barrier (the first largest is located in the Netherlands). Since its construction, the barrier has been blocked 119 times.

The Thames Barriers have come under record strain over the past two months. How do they work?

In December, the Environment Department published a diagram of what London would look like if sea levels continued to rise without barriers. The Houses of Parliament, the O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, as well as the areas of Southwark, the Isle of Dogs, Whitechapel and West Ham would be under water. The Thames Barrier was built in 1982 in the western part of the capital, in the Woolwich area. Its function is to protect the center of London with an area of ​​48 square meters. miles (125 sq. km.) from floods caused by tidal waves.

This is what London would have looked like during a flood without the flood barrier.

Now, due to heavy rainfall, there is a danger that a large amount of water will flow from the sea into the river, and the western part of the capital will suffer from flooding. To prevent this, one of the barrier's caretakers, Edmond Ford, said the barrier is being used at full capacity. Since December 6, it has already been closed 28 times. This is a fifth of all cases of barrier closure - in total it has been closed 150 times since its commissioning. There were years when the barrier was not used at all. The barrier's closure in December 2012 was the first since March 2010. The barrier, with 10 steel locks, is 520 meters (1,700 ft) high. When open, the gates of the locks lie on the bottom of the river; when closed, they rise until they completely block the river. The four main gates are 61.5 meters (200 feet) long and each weighs 3,000 tons. The barrier is closed immediately after low tide, creating a “reservoir” that will be filled with water from the river. It takes 75-90 minutes to close the barrier, from the start of closing the outer gate to the complete closure of the intermediate gate.

• Open position- The Thames flows freely through the locks, ships pass through the locks.


• Closed position- a steel wall blocks the river in its upper reaches, preventing water from flowing to the capital


• Intermediate position- allows a controlled amount of water to pass under the lock into the Thames

If there were no barrier, the flow of sea water would rush to the mouth of the Thames, into London, preventing the normal flow of the river. Coupled with heavy rains, this would lead to flooding. The barrier protects the city from floods. Closed floodgates hold back the river until high tide. The keepers wait until the water level on both sides of the barrier equalizes (becomes the same), then the sluice gate opens and the water flows out. Water cannot overflow over the barrier because there is a margin of space.

The barrier closes in three cases: in the presence of a high storm surge from the North Sea, high tides and excessive river flow. The barrier is currently closing due to the large amount of water flowing down the Thames. Mr Ford says the main reason I am closing the barrier is to lower the river level on the other side of Teddington Dam.

What is the use of a barrier? Mr Ford said: “We are lowering the level inch by inch. This can be felt up the Thames in the area of ​​Moseley - which is 12 miles from central London. This area is especially affected by the tide. A few inches may not seem like much, but it can be the difference between water staying at ground level or flowing into the house.” The barrier closed at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday to reopen with high tide. Warden Ford believes it will close again on Wednesday. Barrier workers predict the weather will worsen, according to readings from instruments used to predict storms. High tide is expected on Wednesday. Throughout almost its entire history, London did not have a protective barrier. In 1928, the Thames flooded between the City and Southwark to the east and between Putney and Hammersmith to the west of the river, killing 14 people. According to modern sources, the water level in the streets reached 4 feet (1.2 meters).

1928: London's last Thames flood

In 1953, the flow of water from the North Sea led to the death of one person in London and flooding in the Silverton area, prompting the creation of a special protective mechanism. The creation of the barrier began in 1974, and 10 years later its grand opening took place. The barrier should last until 2030. Recent studies have shown that even with sea levels rising as a result of expected climate change, the barrier will provide reliable protection until 2060-2070.

By the way, this photo, as suggested in the comments, is not entirely on topic. This is what it's about:

The head of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster, with the support and assistance of colleagues from Halcrow and Volterra, presented to the public perhaps his most ambitious concept - the Thames Hub infrastructure plan.
The project's subtitle can be translated as "An Integral Vision for Britain." The main ideas contained in this work are as follows. The infrastructure of Foggy Albion is outdated and requires reorganization. In the context of further globalization of the economy and population growth, high-quality infrastructure can become a serious competitive advantage of the state. Foster proposes to create a giant “spinal cord” or “ridge” (it’s called the Spine), passing through the entire country and combining transport, information and energy flows. The most important object of the “ridge” will be the Thames Hub, a giant transport and logistics hub, including air, river, sea and rail connections. The project involves the construction of a four-track Orbital Rail high-speed train line, which will connect all radial lines of the London Underground; river ports in the Thames Delta; a tunnel connecting London to the hub; Estuary Airport (capacity - 150 million passengers per year); a logistics matrix linking river ports with the harbors of Southampton and Liverpool; information storage centers and high-speed Internet networks and so on.
Lord Foster is convinced that a hub that connects the country directly with European markets will be the key to the UK's future prosperity. He is also supported by renowned economist Bridget Rosewell, chairman of Volterra Consulting and co-founder of the Thames Estuary Research and Development Company (TESTRAD).
Official website of the architectural bureau: fosterandpartners.com

Once in Woolwich, one of the districts of London, and looking at the Thames, the eyes of tourists will inexorably be attracted by fantastic buildings right on the river, like giant silver sails fluttering over the expanses of water. This is the so-called Thames Barrier, or simply an engineering structure designed to protect the city from flooding.

A little history

Its construction became necessary, since the city in its history has experienced more than one natural disaster associated with the overflow of the banks of the Thames. The last century was marked by two such floods - in 1928 and 1953. The latter exceeded the patience of the British. More than 300 people died during the disaster. However, it was only in 1972 that the decision was finally made to build the Barrier.

The design of the future structure was entrusted to Charles Reginald Draper. In May 1984, the facility was inaugurated by Elizabeth II. From now on, the Thames, where its width is 520 meters, is blocked by impressive structures, each the size of a five-story building, dividing the main flow of the river into four channels of 61 meters and two spans of 30 meters intended for navigation.

Thames Barrier today

In the openings between the sail-shaped structures there are rotating segments made of steel, each of which weighs almost 4 thousand tons. On calm days, they lie at the bottom of the river, and in the event of an impending flood, they simultaneously turn 900, reliably blocking the powerful current.

Every year, a huge number of tourists from different parts of our planet come to see the miracle of human thought. A working model of the Barrier can be seen at the Education and Information Center. And if you are lucky, the operation of the facility itself will be turned on to check all systems once a month.

From the northern part of the river, a luxurious park with fountains, gardens, groves, and meadows adjoins the futuristic dam - a vivid example of the restoration of ruined territory. Not so long ago there was an industrial zone here with all the ensuing consequences. However, in 1994, a decision was made to transform this area and already in 2000, one of the best green places in London opened.

• Fact. The Barrier concept was developed by Drepper back in 1950. Being an eighteen-year-old boy, Drepper proposed a model that worked on the principle of an ordinary gas brass tap. The test showed the reliability and, importantly, the efficiency of his brainchild.
• Fact. The relevance of the Barrier increases every year. The fact is that the frequency of natural disasters is increasing - for example, in the first 5 years of operation, the facility was used only 4 times, and only in 2001 11 times! And the prospects are not encouraging. Experts say that by 2050 the Barrier will be activated up to 80 times a year!

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The Thames Barrier is a grandiose structure that protects London from floods. In the 20th century, floods with fatalities struck the British capital twice, in 1928 and 1953. The British decided that it was no longer possible to endure the violence of the elements.

For centuries, London was vulnerable to flooding due to storm surge from the North Sea. In such cases, a tidal wave moves across the sea, the pressure of which increases in the English Channel, then at the mouth of the Thames. In the spring the surge may coincide with the seasonal flood, and this will certainly mean flooding of London. Let's see what we've come up with to combat this.

After the 1953 flood, which killed 307 people, the community agreed on the need for a protective barrier. At risk lay 340 square kilometers of land with half a million buildings and almost a hundred railway stations. 1.25 million people lived here. The possible damage from a catastrophic flood was estimated at a monstrous amount: 30 billion pounds sterling.

In 1972, the decision was made to build the Barrier. Its concept was proposed by engineer Charles Reginald Draper. Back in 1950, as an eighteen-year-old boy, he built a working model using the principle of an ordinary brass gas tap. Testing has proven the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the design.

On 8 May 1984, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the Thames Barrier. It spans a river 520 meters wide: futuristic-looking sparkling structures, each as tall as a five-story building, divide the flow into four 61-meter sections and two 30-meter navigable spans. These openings contain steel rotating segments that normally lie on the river bottom. If necessary, segments weighing 3,700 tons synchronously rotate 90 degrees, reliably blocking the flow.

Time has shown that the Barrier is vital for London: the frequency of floods is increasing all the time. In the first five years, the structure was used only four times. But in 2001 alone it had to be raised 15 times, in 2003 - 19 times, in 2007 - 11. It is believed that by 2050 the protective structure will be turned on up to 75 times a year.

Crowds of tourists come to see the Barrier. A working model of the structure is shown in the small Education and Information Center. With some luck, you can see the work of the Barrier itself - it is checked once a month.

On the north bank of the Thames, the Thames Barrier Park is adjacent to the structure - an excellent example of the renovation of a ruined area. Previously, here, at the Royal Docks, there was a "dirty" production of sleepers and telegraph poles. In 1994, a plan was adopted to transform the territory into one of the best green places in London, and an international competition was announced. And already in 2000, a magnificent park with fountains, gardens, groves and flower meadows opened here.

The barrier is made up of 9 steel gates blocking the river 520 meters wide. When open, the gate lies flat on the seabed, allowing the river to flow freely and allowing vessels of all sizes to pass through. When closed, the gate moves upward until it completely blocks the river. The gate is hollow inside and made of 1.6-inch thick steel. Each door is 61 meters long and weighs 3,200 tons. The gate fills with water as it sinks and empties as it rises from the river.

Flooding has been a problem in London for centuries. The threat has been increasing over time due to a slow but continuous rise in flood levels and the UK's slow "subsidence" of up to 5cm per 100 years caused by post-glacial recovery. The 1928 Thames flood killed 14 people and 307 people died after the 1953 flood.

Construction of the Thames Barrier began in 1974, but was officially opened a decade later. The barrier was originally designed to operate until 2030, but recent analysis suggests it will provide sufficient protection until 2060-70.

And in January 2014, the Thames Barrier was put into operation in London. The UK Meteorological Service on Saturday January 4 warned of increased storm winds and the threat of abnormally high tidal waves.

Sea storms were then raging off the coast of the British counties of Cornwall and Devon, as well as in Wales in the southwest of Great Britain. Three-meter waves hit the embankment of the Welsh resort town of Aberystwyth, washing away the slabs with which it was paved. About 100 people living in houses on the embankment were evacuated; Dozens of shops and hotels located by the sea are flooded.

The Thames Barrier is the second largest movable safety barrier (the first largest is located in the Netherlands). Since its construction, the barrier has been blocked 119 times.

The Thames Barriers have come under record strain over the past two months. How do they work?

In December, the Environment Department published a diagram of what London would look like if sea levels continued to rise without barriers. The Houses of Parliament, the O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, as well as the areas of Southwark, the Isle of Dogs, Whitechapel and West Ham would be under water. The Thames Barrier was built in 1982 in the western part of the capital, in the Woolwich area. Its function is to protect the center of London with an area of ​​48 square meters. miles (125 sq. km.) from floods caused by tidal waves.

This is what London would have looked like during a flood without the flood barrier.

Now, due to heavy rainfall, there is a danger that a large amount of water will flow from the sea into the river, and the western part of the capital will suffer from flooding. To prevent this, one of the barrier's caretakers, Edmond Ford, said the barrier is being used at full capacity. Since December 6, it has already been closed 28 times. This is one fifth of all the times the barrier has been closed - in total it has been closed 150 times - since it was put into operation. There were years when the barrier was not used at all. The barrier's closure in December 2012 was the first since March 2010. The barrier, with 10 steel locks, is 520 meters (1,700 ft) high. When open, the gates of the locks lie on the bottom of the river; when closed, they rise until they completely block the river. The four main gates are 61.5 meters (200 feet) long and each weighs 3,000 tons. The barrier is closed immediately after low tide, creating a “reservoir” that will be filled with water from the river. It takes 75-90 minutes to close the barrier, from the start of closing the outer gate to the complete closure of the intermediate gate.

• Open position- The Thames flows freely through the locks, ships pass through the locks.
• Closed position- a steel wall blocks the river in its upper reaches, preventing water from flowing to the capital
• Intermediate position- allows a controlled amount of water to pass under the lock into the Thames

If there were no barrier, the flow of sea water would rush to the mouth of the Thames, into London, preventing the normal flow of the river. Coupled with heavy rains, this would lead to flooding. The barrier protects the city from floods. Closed floodgates hold back the river until high tide. The keepers wait until the water level on both sides of the barrier equalizes (becomes the same), then the sluice gate opens and the water flows out. Water cannot overflow over the barrier because there is a margin of space.

The barrier closes in three cases: in the presence of a high storm surge from the North Sea, high tides and excessive river flow. The barrier is currently closing due to the large amount of water flowing down the Thames. Mr Ford says the main reason I am closing the barrier is to lower the river level on the other side of Teddington Dam.

What is the use of a barrier? Mr Ford said: “We are lowering the level inch by inch. This can be felt up the Thames in the area of ​​Moseley - which is 12 miles from central London. This area is especially affected by the tide. A few inches may not seem like much, but it can be the difference between water staying at ground level or flowing into the house.” The barrier closed at 10:30 GMT on Tuesday to reopen with high tide. Warden Ford believes it will close again on Wednesday.

Barrier workers predict the weather will worsen, according to readings from instruments used to predict storms. High tide is expected on Wednesday. Throughout almost its entire history, London did not have a protective barrier. In 1928, the Thames flooded between the City and Southwark to the east and between Putney and Hammersmith to the west of the river, killing 14 people. According to modern sources, the water level in the streets reached 4 feet (1.2 meters).

1928: London's last Thames flood

In 1953, the flow of water from the North Sea led to the death of one person in London and flooding in the Silverton area, prompting the creation of a special protective mechanism. The creation of the barrier began in 1974, and 10 years later its grand opening took place. The barrier should last until 2030. Recent studies have shown that even with sea levels rising as a result of expected climate change, the barrier will provide reliable protection until 2060-2070.

The head of Foster + Partners, Norman Foster, with the support and assistance of colleagues from Halcrow and Volterra, presented to the public perhaps his most ambitious concept - the Thames Hub infrastructure plan.

The project's subtitle can be translated as "An Integral Vision for Britain." The main ideas contained in this work are as follows. The infrastructure of Foggy Albion is outdated and requires reorganization. In the context of further globalization of the economy and population growth, high-quality infrastructure can become a serious competitive advantage of the state. Foster proposes to create a giant “spinal cord” or “ridge” (it’s called the Spine), passing through the entire country and combining transport, information and energy flows.

The most important object of the “ridge” will be the Thames Hub, a giant transport and logistics hub, including air, river, sea and rail connections. The project involves the construction of a four-track Orbital Rail high-speed train line, which will connect all radial lines of the London Underground; river ports in the Thames Delta; a tunnel connecting London to the hub; "Estuary" airport (capacity - 150 million passengers per year); a logistics matrix linking river ports with the harbors of Southampton and Liverpool; information storage centers and high-speed Internet networks and so on.

Lord Foster is convinced that a hub that connects the country directly with European markets will be the key to the UK's future prosperity. He is also supported by renowned economist Bridget Rosewell, chairman of Volterra Consulting and co-founder of the Thames Estuary Research and Development Company (TESTRAD).
Official website of the architectural bureau: fosterandpartners.com

Well, it functions so that something like this doesn’t happen: