It's kind of difficult to get an idea of the size of this thing.
The long pipes that push back against the pivot are 2m diameter and 90mm yes 3 inches wall thickness. This means you can walk through them but imagine trying to use a hacksaw or a drill?
The guide explained the workings
1 computer monitors weather and decides when to close. I guess they took people out of the decision making loop to avoid a wyvanhoe.
2 second computer controls pumps and valves.
3 at rest the thing is in a dry dock. Not quite floating. Supported on rubber & steel mounts. The reason for not floating is because of buffetting by the wind.
4 to deploy, open flood gates. Thing floats.
Engine drives it out like one of those sluding gate openers. There is a giant rack / linear gear along the top.
5 when in position, flood it so it sinks.
Bottom locks into a concrete footing on the bottom of the river.
6 A 1m gap remains between the two barriers. Plus some water can flow round the ends through the dry dock.
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