The promise of "forever love" represented by the custom of couple's placing a padlock on the famous Pont des Arts Bridge and then throwing away the key will soon be gone. The Paris city council has ordered the removal of thousands of padlocks on the bridge.
The tradition, which is enjoyed by tourists as well as natives, has left the bridge in a state of disrepair and many Parisians are getting frustrated with the eye-sore that the padlocks have become.
The bridge, which overlooks the Eiffel Tower, will be closed for one week in June while the padlocks are removed. A portion of it actually gave in due to collective weight of the padlocks last summer.
"This phenomenon generates two problems: a lasting degradation of the heritage of Paris and also a risk to the safety of visitors – Parisians and tourists," said a city official to The Local.
Currently, the Pont des Arts is covered with graffiti-covered plywood panels, but they will be replaced with artwork from international artists, Mashable reports.
Then in October, Padlock-proof plexiglass panels will replace the Pont des Arts bridge's metal grills, Fox News reports.
