The World Geography is dedicated to lists of trivia. We write about natural wonders, unusual tourist destinations and odd geographical facts. Also, every fact, destination or geographical term is accompanied with photo that has been chosen with great care.
A movable bridge is a bridge that moves to allow passage (usually) for boats or barges. An advantage of making bridges moveable is the lower cost, due to the absence of high piers and long approaches. The principal disadvantage is that the traffic on the bridge must be halted when it is opened for passages.
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist bridge spanning River Tyne in England between Gateshead's Quays arts quarter on the south bank, and the Quayside of Newcastle on the north bank. The bridge is essentially two graceful curves, one forming the deck and the other supporting it, spanning between the two islands running parallel to the quaysides.
To allow ships to pass underneath, this whole assembly rotates as a single, rigid structure. As the arch tilts lower, the pathway rises, each counterbalancing the other, and a pathway over the river is formed.
The parabolic curves of the deck extend the 105m (344ft) crossing distance to around 120m (394ft), giving enough extra length to provide the required clearance above the water. The appearance of the bridge when in motion leads to it sometimes being called the 'Blinking Eye Bridge' or the 'Winking Eye Bridge’ since its shape is akin to the blinking of an eye if seen from along the river. Visually elegant when static and in motion, the bridge offers a great spectacle during its opening operation.
The bridge is operated by six 45 cm (18 inches) diameter Hydraulic rams, three on each side, and each powered by a 55 kW electric motor. Small ships and boats up to 25 meters (82ft) tall can pass underneath. The bridge takes as little as 4.5 minutes to rotate through the full 40° from closed to open, depending on wind speed.
The construction of the bridge won the architects Wilkinson Eyre the 2002 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize, the 2003 Gifford IStructE Supreme Award, and in 2005, the Outstanding Structure Award from International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). [link, map]
The Slauerhoffbrug is a fully automatic bascule bridge (aka tail bridge) in the city of Leeuwarden in the Netherlands. It uses two arms to swing a section of road in and out of place within the road itself.
It is also known as the “Slauerhoffbrug ‘Flying’ Drawbridge”. A tail bridge can quickly and efficiently be raised and lowered from one pylon (instead of hinges). This quickly allows water traffic to pass while only briefly stalling road traffic.
The deck is 15m by 15m (50x50ft). It is painted in yellow and blue, representative of Leeuwarden's flag and seal. Slauerhoffbrug is perhaps named after J.J. Slauerhoff, the famous Leeuwarder, Dutch poet.
The pylon is situated next to the bridge. The skew bridge deck accentuates the asymmetrical shape. The pylon is provided with chases for the ballastblock in open position.
The robust lift bearing disappears into the road deck. Main girders and cross girders are missing in the construction. The bottom of the bridge deck is flat. [link1, link2, map] 3. Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, France
The Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas is a vertical-lift bridge over the Garonne in Bordeaux, France. It was inaugurated on 16 March 2013 by President François Hollande and Alain Juppé, mayor of Bordeaux. Its main span is 110 m (361 ft) long.
The bridge has a lift height of approximately 50m (164ft) and it operate roughly 120 times per year for the passage of large vessels to the ports surrounding Bordeaux.
Four, independent pylon towers-one at each corner of the lift span – support the span weight and permit the movement of the counterweights vertically inside each pylon.
As of 2013, it is the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe. It is named in honour of Jacques Chaban-Delmas, a former Prime Minister of France and a former mayor of Bordeaux. [link1, link2, map] 4. Vizcaya Bridge, Spain
The Vizcaya Bridge is a transporter bridge that links the towns of Portugalete and Las Arenas (part of Getxo) in the Biscay province of Spain, crossing the mouth of the Ibaizabal River.
People in the area, and even the official website, commonly call it the Puente Colgante (literally "hanging bridge", used for suspension bridge in Spanish), although its structure is quite different from a suspension bridge.
The Vizcaya Bridge was built to connect the two banks which are situated at the mouth of the Ibaizabal River. It is the world's oldest transporter bridge and was built in 1893, designed by Alberto Palacio, one of Gustave Eiffel's disciples and Elissague.
The bridge, still in use, is 164m (538ft) long, and its gondola can transport six cars and several dozen passengers in one and a half minutes. It operates every 8 minutes during the day (every hour at night), all year round, with different fares for day and night services, and is integrated into Bilbao's Creditrans transport system.
The structure is made of four 61 metre (200ft) towers which are the pillars and lay on the river banks.There are two new visitor lifts installed in the 50 meter (164ft) high pillars of the bridge that allow walking over the bridge's platform, from where there is a view of the port and the Abra bay. [link, map] 5. Puente de la Mujer, Argentina
Puente de la Mujer (Spanish for "Women's Bridge") is a rotating footbridge for Dock 3 of the Puerto Madero commercial district of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is of the Cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge type and is also a swing bridge, but somewhat unusual in its asymmetrical arrangement.
It has a single mast with cables suspending a portion of the bridge which rotates 90 degrees in order to allow water traffic to pass. When it swings to allow watercraft passage, the far end comes to a resting point on a stabilizing pylon.
The 170-metre (558ft) pedestrian bridge weighs 800 tonnes, is 6.2m (20ft) wide and is divided into two fixed portions, 25m (82ft) and 32.5m (107ft) long respectively, and a middle section of 102.5 m (336ft) that rotates on a white concrete pylon, allowing vessels to pass in less than two minutes.
This central section is supported by a steel "needle" with a concrete core, about 34m (112ft) high. The "needle," inclined at a 39° angle, anchors suspension cables which support the central span. A computer system at the eastern end of the bridge operates the turning mechanism when required. [link, map] 6. River Hull Footbridge, UK
The steel River Hull Footbridge (also called Scale Lane Bridge) is the world’s first footbridge that rotates to open or close for river traffic while pedestrians are still on it. The beautiful prefab structure designed by London-based McDowell+Benedetti spans the River Hull in Yorkshire and takes about two minutes to fully open or close. It connects the city center (Hull) with the eastern development, acting as both an important infrastructural urban element and a new civic landmark.
The footbridge is approximately 16 meters (52.5ft) in diameter and features a series of wheels running on a circular track below the hub that allows it to open and close – depending on the amount of river traffic.
A full sequence takes about two minutes and moves very slowly at a speed lower than that of the London Eye. Pedestrians and bikers can stay on it while it rotates and experience the river from a whole new perspective.
The lighting for the bridge was designed by Sutton Vane Associates, who made sure that the energy efficient lights cast a trace over the water at night and create an appearance of the bridge being defined by the point of light from the line of fittings.
Small points of light emphasize the shape of the bridge and appear when the bridge starts to pivot. To add to the drama, a row of recessed lights turn on while the bridge is moving, creating a unique light show. [link, map] 7. Hörn Bridge, Germany
The Hörn Bridge is a folding bridge in the city of Kiel in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The bridge spans over the end of the Kiel Fjord (called Hörn) and was designed by Gerkan, Marg and Partners. It is a three-segment bascule bridge with a main span of 25.5 metres (84 ft) that folds in the shape of the letter "N". The bridge was built in 1997 and did cost DM 16 million.
The Hörn Bridge is 5 metres (16ft) wide and connects the city centre on the west bank of the Hörn with the Gaarden quarter on the east bank. The pedestrian bridge is especially important for passengers connecting between the Norway Ferry Terminal (Norwegenkai) and the main railway station.
Many Kielians were skeptical in regard to the design. There were repeated malfunctions of the mechanism upon startup, hence one of its nicknames, the "Klappt-Nix-Brücke" (Folds-not Bridge). In order to ensure crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, a hydraulically operated retractable bridge was built directly adjacent as an interim solution and is still used during repair and maintenance of the folding bridge. The Hörn Bridge is now accepted as a technical masterpiece and has become a tourist attraction.
Usually the bridge opens once every hour in order to allow small- and medium-sized ships to travel in and out of the Hörn. The bridge offers one of the best panoramic views of the city of Kiel. It is also at the beginning and terminating point of a scenic route: the tourist route from Bremervörde to the Kieler Förde connects approximately 50 different ferries, bridges, ship locks, tidal barriers and maritime museums and its landmarks of the Rendsburg and Osten transporter bridges. [link, map]
Foryd Harbour Cycle and Pedestrian Bridge is located in Rhyl - a seaside resort town and community in Denbighshire, situated on the north east coast of Wales, UK. The iconic structure provides a single leaf bascule opening span over the navigable channel, giving unlimited clearance. To balance the lift, the back-span also lifts mirroring its twin.
A single Duplex stainless steel mast nearly 50m (164ft) tall houses a pulley mechanism and associated lift cables, providing a visual declaration of the bridge's presence that will be visible from miles around and will also provide a central focus within the harbour.
The mast is stayed by a system of rigging similar to that seen on many sailing boats. To accommodate the central mast, each deck splits to permit a 3 metre (10ft) walkway on either side. [link] 9. Submersible Bridges at Corinth Canal, Greece
Submersible bridge at the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal link
The Corinth Canal in Greece cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnesian peninsula from the Greek mainland, connecting the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.
Built between 1881 and 1893, the Corinth Canal is considered a great technical achievement for its time. Although the canal saves the 700-kilometer (435mi) journey around the Peloponnese, it is too narrow for modern ocean freighters, as it can only accommodate ships of a width of up to 16.5 meters (54ft) and a draught of 7.3 meters (24ft).
A boat passes over the Submersible bridge at the eastern terminus of the Corinth Canal. link
Ships can only pass through the canal one at a time on a one-way system. Larger ships have to be towed by tugs. The canal is nowadays mostly used by tourist ships, with 11,000 ships using the canal every year.
In 1988, two submersible bridges were constructed exist across the Corinth Canal, one at each end, in Isthmia and Corinth. The bridge lowers the bridge deck 8 meters (26ft) below water level to permit waterborne traffic to use the waterway.
The primary advantage of lowering the bridge instead of lifting it above is that there is no structure above the shipping channel and thus no height limitation on ship traffic. This is particularly important for sailing vessels. Additionally, the lack of an above-deck structure is considered aesthetically pleasing. However, the presence of the submerged bridge structure limits the draft of vessels in the waterway. [link, map] 10. El Ferdan Railway Bridge, Egypt
The El Ferdan Railway Bridge, also known as the Al-Firdan Bridge, extends over the Suez Canal, close to the city of Ismailia in the northeast region of Egypt.
The bridge connects mainland Egypt with the Sinai Peninsula, and measuring 1,100 feet (335m) in length, it’s the world’s longest swing bridge. Both sides of the structure pivot on piers when it’s opening or closing, and thanks to a pair of electric slewing drives, it takes a total of 30 minutes to fully open.
Unlike other bridges on this list, the El Ferdan Railway Bridge stays open for water traffic, and it’s only closed to allow trains to cross the canal. A consortium of Belgian, German and Egyptian companies designed and built it, and construction was completed in 2001 at a cost of roughly $80 million. The bridge was officially opened on November 14, 2001. [link, map] Bonus 1: Barton Swing Aqueduct, UK
The Barton Swing Aqueduct is a moveable navigable aqueduct in Barton upon Irwell in Greater Manchester, England. It carries the Bridgewater Canal across the Manchester Ship Canal.
The aqueduct, the first and only swing aqueduct in the world, is a Grade II listed building, considered a major feat of Victorian civil engineering. Designed by Sir Edward Leader Williams and built by Andrew Handyside of Derby, the swing bridge opened in 1894 and remains in regular use.
The aqueduct is a form of swing bridge. When closed, it allows canal traffic to pass along the Bridgewater Canal. When large vessels need to pass along the ship canal underneath, the 1450-tonne (1430-long-ton; 1600-short-ton) and 330-foot (100m) long iron trough is rotated 90 degrees on a pivot mounted on a small purpose-built island.
Gates at each end of the trough retain around 800 tonnes of water; additional gates on each bank retain water in their adjacent stretches of canal. The aqueduct originally had a suspended towpath along its length, about 9 feet (2.7 m) above the water level of the Bridgewater Canal, which has now been removed. [link, map] Bonus 2: M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge
The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (US Army vehicle) was designed to launch and retrieve a class 60 bridge. Used during combat, an AVLB is a folding portable bridge that is transported on the top of a tank chassis. The AVLB vehicle carries a crew of two. It is powered by a 750 HP Diesel Engine. The bridge and vehicle total weight is 58 tons.
The Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) only supports Abrams tank units using a caution crossing at reduced gap length (15 meters or 50ft) and at a reduced crossing speed. The M60A1 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge entered the Marine Corps inventory in the late 1980s. Current plan has the AVLB in use through 2015 and beyond. The WOLVERINE will replace the AVLB in the Engineer combat vehicle inventory.
The M60A1 AVLB is an armored vehicle used for launching and retrieving a 60-foot (18.3m) scissors-type bridge. The AVLB consists of three major sections: the launcher, the hull, and the bridge. The launcher is mounted as an integral part of the chassis. The bridge, when emplaced, is capable of supporting tracked and wheeled vehicles with a military load bearing capacity up to Class 60.
The bridge can be retrieved from either end. The roadway width of the AVLB is 12.5 feet (3.8m). Bridge emplacement can be accomplished in 2 to 5 minutes, and retrieval can be accomplished in 10 minutes under armor protection. When unfolded, it can span up to 60 feet (18.3m) while supporting 70 tons of equipment. The AVLB spans a 15m (50ft) gap for Military Load Class 70, and spans an 18m (60ft) gap for Military Load Class 60. [link]
.jpg "Slauerhoffbrug, Netherlands")
.jpg "Hörn Bridge, Germany")
.jpg "Foryd Harbour Bridge, UK")
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It's great to see so many different solutions to this!
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