Love’s Locks Removed
Unfortunately, the fad not only caught on, but it also exploded. Officials estimate there were over a million locks on the bridge. A section of the bridge collapsed under the weight of the extra load in 2015. The bridge carried nearly 50 tons (45 tonnes) above and beyond its intended load capacity due to the weight of the metal locks, or as Forbes notes, roughly the weight of twenty elephants. Concerned for public safety, the city removed the locks. While visitors are welcome to cross the bridge and take in the views of Paris, they are prohibited from putting locks on the bridge to declare their enduring love. While this hasn’t stopped some visitors from trying to add new locks to Pon des Arts bridge, they are removed as soon as they are spotted. Visitors are encouraged to take selfies or find less destructive declarations of love.
