12/12/2024
On a damp fall day in November, we visited London’s Thames Barrier to watch a test closure from the beautiful Thames Barrier Park. It was low tide, and the birds were scouring the exposed north bank for bits and pieces. What was most remarkable about the closure of this magnificent bit of flood infrastructure is just how unremarkable it was. The barrier shuts until danger passes and most Londoners are non the wiser. While onshore moveable barriers can cut communities off from their waterfront and block the passage of ambulances and first responders during flood emergencies, the Thames Barrier protects the people of London while allowing them to go about their lives as usual.
