Kelly Wright, joined by sons Colby, 12, and Tanner, 8, attaches a padlock to the Love Locks fence Tuesday on Portland's Commercial Street. Deemed a public safety risk, the fence will be removed within two weeks.

The rest of the chain-link fence will be put in storage, Portland officials said. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

So many padlocks hang from the Love Locks fence in Portland that the chain-link has pulled away from its metal framework. City spokeswoman Jessica Grondin said the laden fence has become a public safety issue.

Peter Crawford, a 53 Portland man, says the sidewalk in front of the Love Locks fence is his preferred spot for asking passing pedestrians for help. On Tuesday, Crawford said he liked watching people visit the Commercial Street site on Portland's waterfront. "People come here to lock in their love," he said, "to say it's forever."

Most of the fence, with locks in place, will be displayed publicly in the nearby parking lot of DiMillo's Restaurant & Lounge.