London (CNN) — Tower Bridge, one of London's most famous landmarks , was stuck open Saturday afternoon due to "mechanical failure," causing traffic chaos in the city. The 240 meter-long bridge, a staple of London's skyline and a popular tourist attraction, features a drawbridge type movable bridge, which lifts around 800 times a year to allow vessels to pass in the river below. Pedestrians, cyclists and traffic were stuck on Tower Bridge. Queues of motorists and pedestrians waited for at least an hour, while police asked motorists to find alternative routes around the city. Spanning the River Thames, the landmark, known as a "bascule" bridge (French for "see-saw"), was completed in 1894.

Source: CNN August 23, 2020 09:11 UTC