Thames Barrier marks a quarter of a century

05 May 2009

The Thames Barrier will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its official opening by Her Majesty the Queen on Friday May 8 with a test closure.



The Thames Barrier and associated defences have been providing London with one of the best levels of flood protection in the world since 1982. Operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the Thames Barrier has been used 114 times to protect 125 square km of central London and 1.25 million people from flooding. And the barrier, which initially had a design specification up until 2030, should now protect Londoners for at least 40 extra years, until 2070, the Environment Agency announced earlier this year.



The Barrier was officially opened by the Queen at a ceremony held on the banks of the Thames on 8 May 1984, when a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the occasion.



Environment Agency staff carry out a test closure of the Thames Barrier every month, as a test to ensure the gates are functioning properly. And to mark a very special anniversary, former workers have been invited back to the Thames Barrier to see the closure and to see that the barrier still works as well today as it did when they worked there.



Steve East, Thames Tidal Defences Technical Support Team Leader, said: "Today is a very special day, marking the 25th anniversary of the Thames Barrier. It is testament to the legacy of those involved in its conception and construction more than three decades ago.



"The recent announcement that the barrier has a longer design specification than was originally thought, only goes to prove just how well thought out this project was from its conception through design to its operation.



"From around 08:10am we carry out the 410th closure, we will move the main Barrier gates to a position called underspill and we will effectively force the flow of the Thames through a narrow gap under the gates."



The test closure end at approximately 10:40am. Closure times are approximate and may vary with tidal conditions on the day.