‘Love Locks’ Taken Down in France but Not in Portland

Bummer for Paris, but not for Portland!

At the beginning of the month workers in Paris began dismantling the nearly one million padlocks that hung along the historic Pont des Arts bridge. The 'love locks' have been a growing attraction since 2008. Tourists and locals alike have attached about 45 tons of named and initialed inscribed locks. That massive amount of weight is now endangering the integrity of the bridge.

Once all the locks are removed, Plexiglas will be installed over the grid-work.

In Portland, a similar display of lovey dovey-ness is still safe from removal. A chain-link fence along Commercial Street near Long Wharf is decorated with over 3,000 love locks. So far, the fence is still strong enough to protect pedestrians from a ten-foot drop into Portland Harbor.

Love locks have been banned from structures all around the world including New York's, Brooklyn Bridge.