In the 19th century, London Bridge was the only way of crossing the Thames River. As London grew, more bridges were added on the west side of London Bridge. The east side however became a busy port, requiring a new bridge. It took 8 years, 432 workers, and over 11,000 tons of steel to build what would become the Tower Bridge. The Prince of Wales opened the bridge in 1894, and it helped relieve the stress of the east side. The bridge would become one of the world’s most recognized bridges due to its iconic design. It has two towers at the ends of each bank. The middle section of the bridge can raise up and down to let ships sail past, which is done with the use of hydraulics. The bridge is not only an icon of London, but to the whole of the U.K.