Californian Reacts | Why are there no bridges in East London?
There are roughly 33 bridges across the Thames within London. The furthest east in London is Tower Bridge.
To the east of Tower Bridge it's an entirely different story. There's just the Rotherhithe Tunnel, the Blackwall Tunnel, The Woolwich Ferry, two foot tunnels and a Dangleway, then nothing all the way out until the Dartford Tunnel and QE2 bridge.
There are some physical constraints to building further east. The first of these is a width issue. At Tower Bridge the Thames is 250m wide, whereas it's a vast 570m by the time it reaches Dartford. That sounds like a lot, but it pales in comparison to a list of the world's longest bridges.
Another physical constriction is height. The Thames in east London is still a regular shipping route so a bridge would have to be a high enough that ships could easily fit under. Again this is something to take into consideration for a new bridge, but by no means should it provide a serious barrier. The existence of Dartford's QE2 bridge is proof that both the width and height difficulties can be overcome.
As these parameters make bridge building difficult, should the question be why aren't there more tunnels beneath the river in the east? Well, there's a third issue that historically made that challenging. As you travel further east, the earth beneath the Thames gets softer, making tunnelling tough. Still, the three tunnels that already exist prove that this is again nothing more than a factor rather than a cause to give up.
Some of those constraints explain the lack of crossings pre-20th century, but as technology improved why hasn't London built more? Well, people did try.
- londonist.com/london/features...
Original video ( • Why are there no bridg... )
Channel ( / jayforeman )
- Video Chapters -
0:00 Introduction
1:20 East London Bridge Mystery
15:25 Thoughts & Questions
#london #unitedkingdom #londonbridge
Пікірлер: 34
To my British friends! Does east London need a bridge or tunnel? Is it an issue in London? 🌉 The furthest I went was the Tower Bridge and noticed that looking out east looked much different with no crossings I could see. Enjoy Jay Foreman and his comedic explanation!
@sandersson2813
Жыл бұрын
It had a two tunnels already
@alanflint7732
Жыл бұрын
There are several tunnels east of tower bridge. There is a foot tunnel that goes from Woolwich to Greenwich. I've cycled through that. There is a bridge east. That completes the circuit of the M25 London ring road/carpark.
Work started on the Silverton Tunnel in 2021. The launch pit for the tunnel boring machine has been dug. The Boring machine named Jill is in place. Named after Jill Viner who was the first woman to drive a London bus in 1974.
There is another tunnel under east London Thames. It is the world's oldest tunnel under a body of water- built c.1825-1842 by Marc Brunel. Originally it was Foot traffic. It was then converted to railway and today carries the London Overground Railway. It is home to a mosquito that is not found anywhere else.
Missed out the Tilbury Gravesend Ferry which has been around for hundreds of years. In 1852 the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway took over operation of the ferry, and sold tickets from London to Gravesend in Kent. With passengers transferring from train to a ferry at Tilbury in Essex.
Good afternoon I would just like to share a bit of history. I remember being told years ago that Anglesey (island off the Welsh coast) is seen as the head (bear with me) and holyhead, small island off Anglesey is the third eye, and the arm llyn peninsula is pointing to bardsey island which is the island of 20,000 saints. A bit more information, there is no J in the Welsh alphabet, hence there is nowhere in Wales with a J in the name. I was also told that Jones which is a fairly common surname, is from when the English invaded Wales approximately 1056. The longest word in Welsh is :- Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch Which translates to:- Welsh word that translates roughly as "St Mary's Church in the Hollow of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the Red Cave". P.s. I believe the reason the queen was not buried the week before she was (it had to be a burial on a Monday) was because of the way 9/11 fell. Hope you receive this email. Kindest regards Marie
Rotherhithe tunnel I used to hold my breath on a motorbike. Woolwich ferry Used it multiple times a day Once you know how to use it it’s really good.
I used the cable car in July it was fun but I didn’t get off at the other side just rode back It’s was only £5 each way. Great vids BTW. Keep them coming.
@antonycoan9424
Жыл бұрын
I did the same, it’s a nice relaxing return journey. Especially when it is dark with the 02 and Canary Wharf lit up
Nice video. I work in a hospital close to Hammersmith Bridge and I remember that the bridge was wrapped in foil sometime in July this year apparently due to the heat wave so it would not crack. The foil is gone now as it has started to get cold 🥶 I hope we do not have a brutal winter.
@YellinInMyEar
Жыл бұрын
rather shortsighted in choosing something that would crack in the heat in these times of extreme weathers.
Tower Bridge - in 1968 an RAF pilot flew his Hawker Hunter low around London and under Tower Bridge as a personal protest against the UK MoD, for not recognising and celebrating the RAF's 50 year anniversary.
There are lots........they are small.cos the rivers/canals are narrow..........East London is cultured as anywhere else.......you see it from the perspective of a brief visitor........the Thames originates outside North London........East London is now full.artists, musicians, trendy restaurants alongside the domestic population..........London changes constantly.........East & North is more vibrant........the wealthy now spend a fortune on houses there, be a little more open in your thoughts........we also. have the only vast forest, Epping,, in East London.......where does the Thames originate........it enters North London & fows through the east..........
I used to walk through the Rotherhithe tunnel and my eye's would be screaming and coughing because of the cars😮
Thx for another entertaining video, my Cali cousin. Don't waste your time and effort climbing Tower Bridge, unless civil engineering history is your métier or focus of interest. It is undoubtedly the most famous of the bridges in London, but I think in terms of beauty Albert, Vauxhall, and Lambeth bridges are better.
@californianreacts
Жыл бұрын
Good to know! We were so exhausted by the end of the day when we walked back across the Tower Bridge and had so much more planned that evening and always wondered if we missed out on something big. But now I feel better! Appreciate it, T.A.K.
@johnp8131
Жыл бұрын
Good advice.
The cable car is a bit of a white elephant tbh. It's expensive and not included in the london daily travel cap like many other forms of London transport. It's become more of a tourist ride.
@sandersson2813
Жыл бұрын
It is a novelty but unless such a system is at a ski resort, why bother?
@kwlkid85
Жыл бұрын
@@sandersson2813 They can be useful when terrain is difficult.
i love Jay, HOWEVER. Theory v Practice.....most of us own cars in Outer London....My example until my retirement in 2017 after 6,000 journeys from Kent to Essex and vice versa/ By Public Transport. 12-minute walk to the bus stop.5 mins for the bus(haha) a 12-minute journey to Train Station including walking.. Wait 10 minutes for the train(he he). 25-minute journey to London Bridge then a 15-minute walk to get the first of 2 tubes and I train to Chadwell Heath. Walk to Buses then wait (average 15 minutes) for the bus to Romford then walk to work. I had to carry money and a large bag, in all weathers and if any of those buses/train/tube journeys were delayed I would not make it. Duration around 140 minutes. Then return home leaving at 11PM ( Good Luck with that) Home 12.30am. BY CAR? DOOR TO DOOR in the dry, playing my music, with my chosen companions: 45 minutes going and 28 minutes returning. I never had to "phone a friend" for my choice. TOTAL 280 MINUTES V Under 75 Minutes...reurn.
London was the biggest port in the world in 1939 and was still big until the 1960s. Large ships came into many of the docks and into the Pool of London. One reason for no bridges until modern times.
Also a new tunnel in tilbury next year
We have two tunnels in east london Blackwall and Rotherhithe and also we have dartford crossing
@JackOfHarts96
Жыл бұрын
1. Those are tunnels, not bridges (except Dartford QE2). 2. Dartford is not in London. 3. Did you even watch the video? This was mentioned.
You couldn't put bridges in east London because of the docks, they were still in use in the sixties.
London has an excellent public transport system - unlike many American cities - and many people do not own cars.
@Isleofskye
Жыл бұрын
On the periphery, most of is own cars.My example until my retirement in 2017 after 6,000 journeys from Kent to Essex and vice versa/ By Public Transport. 12-minute walk to the bus stop.5 mins for the bus(haha) a 12-minute journey to Train Station including walking.. Wait 10 minutes for the train(he he). 25 minute journey to London Bridge then a 15-minute walk to get the first of 2 tubes and I train to Chadwell Heath. Walk to Buses then wait (average 15 minutes) for the bus to Romford then walk to work. I had to carry money and a large bag, in all weathers and if any of those buses/train/tube journeys were delayed I would not make it. Duration around 140 minutes. Then return home leaving at 11PM ( Good Luck with that) Home 12.30am. BY CAR? DOOR TO DOOR in the dry, playing my music, with my chosen companions: 45 minutes going and 28 minutes returning. I never had to "phone a friend" for my choice.
That was amusing, if not exactly educational. I live in the Wast End near Oxford Street, so it doesn't really bother me.
6:00 while he's talking about asymmetry only half his face is shaved
Why does anyone need to ask this question?
@paulmidsussex3409
Жыл бұрын
Lots of people must need to cross between E London north of the river to E London south of the river. What do you do if your favourite hair dresser is the other side of the river, or your favourite gym, or you favourite cooking oil bottling plant.
@sandersson2813
Жыл бұрын
@@paulmidsussex3409 That is a preposterous question. Use the fucking Blackwell Tunnel, Emirates Cable Car, change trains etc.