‘Love Locks,’ those padlocks attached to bridges and monuments all over, with the key thrown away to symbolize unbreakable affection, have been the subject of a serious backlash in many cities, and now Paris is ready to move on demands by local campaigners that they be removed.
Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s office has announced that the two hardest-hit bridges, the Pont des Arts and the Pont de l’ArchevechÉ, will close for a week each in July to allow workers to remove all the locks, and to cover the grids to which they were attached with glass panels, some of which will be covered with artworks commissioned by the city.
While campaigners have called for a total ban and for fines, the city is concerned about its reputation with tourists and has chosen instead to remove them and block their replacement. Once these two bridges are “unlocked,” it may be necessary to turn attention to other bridges that could start to see more locks. In all, 11 Paris bridges have had lots of locks, which in some cases have damaged the bridge railings.
Gumbo’s earlier report on Love Locks is HERE
