The A13 East India Dock Road bridge requires bales of hay to be hung as a warning due to an ancient law, necessitated by reduced height from scaffolding.
The Port of London Thames Byelaws state that a bale of straw must be placed under bridges when headroom is reduced, although the original rationale remains unclear.
The repairs on the bridge, encompassing steelwork replacements and waterproofing, are projected to continue until August 2025, leading to lane closures periodically throughout this period.
Curiosity about the bales, which can be seen near Leaway Park, highlights one of London's longest-standing peculiar regulations linked to maritime safety.
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