(DIR) Home
        
        
       London's Thames Barrier marks 40th anniversary
        
 (HTM) Source
        
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------
        
       Mr Batchelor added that despite the success in protecting London over
       the past 40 years, the Environment Agency would "not rest on our
       laurels given the threat of rising sea levels", and would work with
       partners to review and decide on the right option for a new barrier by
       2040.
        
       Options include upgrading the existing barrier by 2070, so that the
       gates are not overtopped by rising seas and storm surges, or
       installing a series of flood storage "reservoirs" downstream.
        
       The other options are a new barrier with a similar design to the
       current one, with moveable gates that lie flat on the riverbed when
       not needed to allow vessels to pass through and then swing up to
       close, or a permanent barrier with locks for river traffic.
        
       The Thames Barrier currently has 10 steel gates that can be raised
       into position across the River Thames when needed.
        
       Once raised, the main gates are as tall as a five-storey building and
       as wide as the opening of Tower Bridge. Each main gate weighs 3,300
       tonnes.
        
        
        
        
       ______________________________________________________________________
                                                 Served by Flask-Gopher/2.2.1