The Beauty of Moveable Bridges

My biggest interest to the bridges makes me want to write more about moveable bridge. I know that there’s a great technology behind these bridges, but these bridges look so beautiful. Have you ever heard about moveable bridge? It’s a type a bridge that can moves by itself. This bridge allows passage for boats or barges. There’s a reason why this bridge was created, like: efficiency (low price). With the disadvantage like the traffic must be stopped for a while, where the bridges have to move in different side. Usually the type of this bridge operated by gearing or hydraulic pistons and powered by electric motors. Some of these bridges were completed by video-cameras and loudspeakers. There’s a man who operated this bridge, we called him as a bridgeman. From this hub, I want to share the beauty of moveable bridge in the world.

Gateshead Millennium Bridge is the world's first tilt bridge. It is located in Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. This bridge was designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects and engineered by Gifford. It was made by steel with the aid of LUSAS Bridge analysis software. Gateshead Millennium Bridge stands 45m high and spans 105m, with total length of 126 meters or 413 feet. The bridge across the River Tyne (including the Tyne Bridge and Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge) provide a link for pedestrians and cyclists as well. There are two large hydraulic rams at each side. The movement of this bridge allows small watercraft to pass under. This bridge powered by eight electric motors and it takes approximately four minutes to rotate the 850 tons of the structure in fully open position. It was need about 19,000 tons of concrete. Most of people called this as "Eyelid Bridge", because it’s like the blinking of an eye if seen from along the river. Gateshead Millennium Bridge was opened for public at September 17, 2001.

This is incredible bridge I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s so cute and beautiful. The Rolling Bridge is located on the Paddington Basin, London (UK). This bridge was created by British designer, Thomas Heatherwick. It was completed in 2004, as part of the Grand Union Canal office and retail development project. It’s totally different with a conventional opening bridge mechanism. This bridge consisting of a single rigid element that lifts to let boats pass. It gets out of the way by curling up until its two ends touch. This bridge has twelve meter long with minimalist design and triangular in shape. The Rolling Bridge won the British Structural Steel Design Award in 2005. It has become a favorite landmark around the Paddington Basin area of London. I heard that it broke down in 2008, but don’t worry it has now been repaired. It opens every Friday at noon.

This bridge is located in in Normandy, France. Pegasus Bridge is well known as Caen Canal Bridge or Bénouville Bridge. Caen Canal Bridge was renamed as Pegasus Bridge on 26 June 1944 (it was renamed Pegasus Bridge in honour of the operation). Pegasus Bridge was a vital strategic position during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France. It was built in 1934. There’s a new bridge where Pegasus Bridge once stood, but we can see the original of Pegasus Bridge on display at the Pegasus Bridge Museum (just next to the bridge itself). There’s a plaque near the bridge to remind about the events that occurred there (battle around the bridge).

The Slauerhoffbrug is located in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Slauerhoffbrug Bridges designed by Van Driel Mechatronica. It is a fully automatic bridge with an ability to adapt to its surroundings. It has two arms to swing with an angle of 45 degrees. The deck has dimension of 15 x 15 meter. Slauerhoffbrug bridge is a landmark in the city of Leeuwarden both in open position as in closed position. It has wonderful characteristic. This bridge has large span to 30 or 40 meter are possible without principal beams with the lower side of the bridge is flat. With yellow and blue color, it crosses Harlinger Vaart River. It worked by two hydraulic cylinders located in a single pylon next to the bridge. The Slauerhoffbrug itself is built in an L-shape. This bridge officially opened in 2000. Slauerhoffbrug Bridges was made by steel and iron. The name of Slauerhoffbrug was taken by J.J. Slauerhoff, a Dutch poet. From outer appearance, it's like a Robot, right!

Salford Quays Lift Bridge was also known as the Lowry Bridge the Millennium Bridge. It was built in 2000 to provide pedestrians. This bridge has 95-metre long with access between The Lowry Centre on the north bank of the Manchester Ship Canal, England. The location of this bridge is near with the terminus of the canal at the old Manchester Dock. This bridge was designed by Carlos Fernandez Casado and IChristiani & Nielsen as the general contractor, with the approximate cost about $7.5 million. This bridges lifted by hydraulically driven winches assisted by cast steel counter weights at each of the four corner towers. There are glass wind deflectors as the protector for the pedestrians from the wind. We can find glass wind deflectors along each edge of the bridge. The deck was design as an orthotropic. It is more efficient than a concrete deck. Salford Quays Lift Bridge normally operates from the electrical grid (completed with diesel backup system).

It’s one of the famous bridges in the world. This bridge is located in London, England. Tower bridge was built in 1886-1894. It’s a combined between suspension and bascule bridge, over the River Thames. Tower bridge is an iconic symbol of London. With the Victorian Gothic style, the designer forced to create an amazing structure that would be in harmony with the nearby Tower of London. This bridge was designed by city architect Horace Jones in collaboration with John Wolfe Barry. It took 11,000 tons of steel to build this bridge. The mechanism became electrified in 1976. It used steam power to pump water into hydraulic accumulators. As one of the most favorite tourist attraction in London, many tourists love to take a picture. I heard that it is undergoing a renovation project and this project should be completed in 2012.

The category of this bridge is a folding bridge. This bridge is located in the city of Kiel in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. This bridge is become a attraction of the city, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. This bridge has 25.6 meters long, five meters wide, and it made of steel. The roads made of wood and equipped with lights hidden in the floor. This bridge so unique because of the folding design and this bridge as become a tourist attraction in Kiel.

• Visiting the Most Fantastic Bridges in the World

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