It is a bascule bridge, allowing the passage of ocean-going ships up to about 40.5 meters high.

In the early days of the bridge, ships with tall masts passed under it. In its first month of operation, it was raised 600 times, and now it is raised several times a week.

The width of the bridge is 61 m, the height with the wings raised is 65 m. The length of the tower bridge is 244 m.