Bridges around the world

Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, France

 This sophisticated bridge in Bordeaux, France can boast the title of Europe’s longest vertical lift bridge with four traffic lanes and an outboard sidewalk and bicycle lane. The lift structure has four independent pylons towers supporting the span weight and can lift to a height of 50 meters (164 feet). 

 

 

2 Gateshead Millennium Bridge, UK

 Spanning the River Tyne, this bridge is nicknamed the Winking Eye Bridge because of its eye-shaped look when in motion. The bridge has a deck for pedestrians and cyclists and a supporting arch. The bridge rotates as a single structure with the arch lowering and the deck rising, counter-balancing each other, forming a pathway for water traffic. 

 

 

3 Vizcaya Bridge, Spain

 The Vizcaya Bridge in Biscay, Spain connects the two towns of Portugalete and Las Arenas over the Ibaizabal River. The locals refer to the bridge as Puente Colgante, meaning suspension bridge even though it is a transporter bridge with a different structure. This bridge also happens to be the world’s oldest transporter bridge as it was built in 1893.  Its gondola can transport six cars, as well as passengers and cyclists. 

 

 

4 Submersible Bridges, Corinth Canal , Greece

The Corinth Canal was built between 1881 and 1893 and was quite an achievement in its day. The canal went on to save ships a 700 km (435mile) journey because they no longer needed to go around the Peloponnesian peninsula.  It’s very narrow and can only accommodate one ship at a time. The submersible bridges were built in 1988 and their decks are lowered 8 meters (26ft) below the water, allowing for tall shipping vessels to use the canal. 

 

 

5 Puente de la Mujer, Argentina

 This footbridge in Hull, Yorkshire, is also known as the Scale Lane Bridge. An exciting feature of this bridge is that it rotates while pedestrians are still on it. The bridge takes two minutes to open or close for water traffic and offers pedestrians a unique experience of the city. At night, the bridge’s lights turn on and off while the bridge moves, making for a fascinating light show.

Thanks Ivan