The Paris City Hall announced that they will start removing the symbolic love locks on the Pont des Arts Bridge on Monday. Tourists and lovers will have to find another way to express their "eternal love."
Local authorities have decided to finally dismantle the bridge's metal grills where all the padlocks are attached for security reasons. While the landmark is famous among tourists, Parisians deem it an eyesore.
More than that, it is a risk to safety among tourists and locals. It also causes a long-term deterioration of a national heritage, according to The Local.
The practice of putting love locks on the bridge, overlooking the Eiffel Tower, started in recent years. It quickly filled with padlocks of different sizes and shapes with names of lovers, pledging their "forever".
In 2014, a movement called "No Love Locks" was established by concerned locals, with the slogan "Free Your Love. Save Our Bridges." They have been trying to remind tourists that "Paris does not want love locks," according to Lisa Anselmo of the No Love Locks campaign.
After hearing the movement's petition, the city hall agreed to remove them, according to No Love Locks. However, before authorities finally agreed to dismantle the padlocks, they tried to encourage tourists to take selfies instead of attaching padlocks but they failed.
The city hall said they will replace them permanently with glass panels in October. Temporarily, they will install 110 panels to be designed by international artists. Currently, the bridge is covered with graffiti on plywood to completely discourage tourists from the practice.
After the Pont des Arts Bridge, the advocacy group will deal with 11 other bridges and other landmarks in Paris. They hope that this first strong step will end the destructive trend, Anselmo said.