A popular display of padlocks along a downtown Los Gatos bridge has drawn the ire of Caltrans which wants them removed.
The exhibit of locks was started by Los Gatos residents Tim and Carolyn Du Clos in August to mark their 30th wedding anniversary. Since then more locks have joined the display.
Despite the popularity of the padlocks, which are attached to a safety fence on the bridge, CalTrans officials announced Thursday they will remove the locks by Feb. 1, according to a report on KTVU.com.
A sign on the bridge posted Dec. 21 by CalTrans announced the decision, citing safety and maintenance concerns and state regulations that prohibit private items being placed on state property.
In a recent interview with Patch, Du Clos explained how the lock display got started.
"This is an event hundreds of years old," Du Clos said about the locks.
The couple got the idea after seeing hundreds of locks on a bridge in Paris. They learned lovers or friends place an engraved lock to commemorate a special event or anniversary.
Later, they decided to bring the tradition to Los Gatos by adding locks to the Main Street Bridge to announce their pearl wedding anniversary.
Word of the locks spread through town, and now, according to KTVU.com, there are more than two dozen locks in place.
Tim Du Clous said he's disappointed by Caltrans' decision, but is hopeful the decision can be reversed. "We are trying to contact CalTrans with our plea but their website is difficult to enter," he said, adding that "No one wants to surrender so we will continue to appeal."
To get a feel for the worldwide scope of this practice, visit lock-itz.com where the locks can be purchased.
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