If all roads lead to Rome, all waterways lead to London.

Bridges are the gateways into the heart of London.

Therefore, English bridges are the "Gatekeepers" of the waterways.

London Bridge sits at the top of that pyramid.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/London+Bridge/@51.5085412,-0.0890422,779m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4876035159bb13c5:0xa61e28267c3563ac!8m2!3d51.5078788!4d-0.0877321

I'd further argue that all airways lead to DC.

Land, Sea and Air.

Rome (Religion), London (Commerce), DC (Popularity)

Own all three, and where does that get you?

The Vatican, the City of London, and DC are all their own Sovereign entities -- not technically part of their respective nations.

For further insight into bridges, watch this scene from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USHK3rdc-js

People die for bridges. To own them and to control the pathways of both land and sea.

They are but tender things, however. A single crate of explosives enough to bring all those people's sacrifices to nothing but dust in the wind.

In a way, bridges are the prototypical McGuffin. The thing everyone is going after -- the thing that the plot revolves around. It's not the climax, but it is necessary for the climax to have a true meaning.

It connects the Chorus and Verse.

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/music-101-what-is-a-bridge-in-music

There is only one reason you'd destroy your own bridge -- when you don't expect to ever get it back...

Retreat.