The City of London is to shut Tower Bridge for a period of three months while maintenance works and structural repairs are carried out.

BAM Nuttall will be the firm primarily working on the structure and will be paid for by the Bridge House Estate, which has been charged with the task of maintaining five of the Thames’ bridges in the City.

Included in the work, which is set to commence from October 1 2016, is the resurfacing of walkways and fixed roads, replacing work expansion joints, preventing and repairing corrosion and replacing decking on the bascules.

Subject to agreement with the local officials and approval of the final design, Tower Bridge will stay open for pedestrians for the full three month spell of planned works, bar three weekends, during which period the provision of a free replacement ferry service is being proposed.

Also remaining open to visitors throughout the full period of the works is the viewing gallery along the bridge walkways, with planned exhibitions to continue as normal.

More than 40,000 people and 21,000 vehicles cross over the bridge every day, which the City of London Corporation say makes it a pivotal connection for crossing over the River Thames.

Due to such heavy use on a daily basis, the bridge’s timber decking has suffered as a result and was last refurbished some 40 years ago.

Planning and Transport Committee Chairman, Chris Hayward, said that the decision to prevent vehicles from using Tower Bridge has been given serious consideration, and that this choice has been made following comprehensive planning and consultation in conjunction with numerous stakeholders.

Mr Hayward added that the committee will use the time spent upgrading, refurbishing and repairing the most iconic bridge in the city, which will finally finally receive some much needed engineering works after almost 40 years since the last time.