BRIDGES IN THE WORLD

BY G.H. JNANA POOJA

“The wisdom of bridges comes from the fact that they know the both sides, they know the both shores!” ― Mehmet Murat Ildan

Bridge is not a construction but it is a concept, the concept of crossing over large spans of land or huge masses of water, and to connect two far-off points, eventually reducing the distance between them. A bridge provides passage over the obstacle of small caverns, a valley, road, body of water, or other physical obstacle. Designs of bridges vary depending on the nature of the terrain and the function of the bridge and where it is constructed.

PURPOSEThe first bridges were believed to be made by nature — as simple as a log fallen across a stream. The first bridges made by humans were probably spans of wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and crossbeam arrangement.Bridges started off for supply of food and trade goods. But today they allow easy travel across major rivers and estuaries, over the new obstacles of motorways and railway lines, and between neighbouring islands. International trade and travel depend on shipping and air routes, but efficient distribution networks depend on bridges.Some of the famous bridges in the world are discussed below:

MILLAU VIADUCT BRIDGE, MILLAUThe Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-

bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France.

Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world with one mast's summit at 343.0 meters above the base of the structure.

It is also the 12th highest bridge in the world, with a 270 meters drop from the bridge road to the valley below.

The 2460 meters long bridge is a stunning architectural and design feat.

The Millau Viaduct Bridge

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, SAN FRANSISCO Once called "the bridge that couldn't be built," today it is one the

seven wonders of the modern world. Crossing the strait of the Golden Gate from San Francisco to the

Marin headlands for 1.7 miles is the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge, easily identified by its International Orange color.

Opened in 1937, the bridge was built at a cost of $35 million in principal and $39 million in interest and 11 workers’ lives.

The single-suspension span is anchored by twin towers that reach skyward 746 feet, and was once taller than any building in San Francisco.

To support the suspended roadway, two cables, each more than 7,000 feet in length and both containing 80,000 miles of wire stretch over the top of the towers and are rooted in concrete anchorages on shore.

More than 10 years in planning due to formidable opposition, but only four years in actual construction, the Golden Gate Bridge brought the communities of San Francisco and Marin counties closer together.

Golden Gate Bridge

TOWER BRIDGE, UKLondon's Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable

bridges in the world. Its Victorian Gothic style stems from a law that forced

the designers to create a structure that would be in harmony with the nearby Tower of London.

The bridge, designed by city architect Horace Jones in collaboration with John Wolfe Barry, completed in 1894.

Five contractors and nearly 450 workers were involved in the construction of the 265 meter long bridge. It took 11,000 tons of steel to build the framework.

At the time many people disliked its Victorian Gothic design, but over time the bridge became one of London's most famous symbols.

Tower Bridge

THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE, NEW YORKThe Brooklyn Bridge looms majestically over

New York City’s East River, linking the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Since 1883, its granite towers and steel cables have offered a safe and scenic passage to millions of commuters and tourists, trains and bicycles, pushcarts and cars.

The bridge’s construction took 14 years, involved 600 workers and cost $15 million (more than $320 million in today’s dollars).

At least two dozen people died in the process, including its original designer. Now more than 125 years old, this iconic feature of the New York City skyline still carries roughly 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians every day.

Brooklyn Bridge

PONTE VECCHIO, ITALYBuilt very close to the Roman crossing, the

Ponte Vecchio, or Old Bridge, was until 1218 the only bridge across the Arno in Florence.

The current bridge was rebuilt after a flood in 1345.

During World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy. Instead they blocked access by demolishing the medieval buildings on each side.

On November 4, 1966, the bridge miraculously withstood the tremendous weight of water and silt when the Arno once again burst its banks.

Ponte Vecchio

RIALTO BRIDGE, VENICERialto Bridge, crossing over the narrowest

point of the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice, built in the closing years of the 16th century and renowned as an architectural and engineering achievement of the Renaissance.

It was designed and built following a design competition by Antonio da Ponte and his nephew, Antonio Contino.

A single stone-arch span supports a broad rectangular deck carrying two arcades of shops fronting on three roadways.

The lower chord of the bridge is only 83 feet (25 metres), while the width is 66 feet (20 metres).

Rialto Bridge

CHARLES BRIDGE, PRAGUECharles Bridge is a stone Gothic bridge that

connects the Old Town and Lesser Town (Malá Strana). It was actually called the Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) during its first several centuries.

Its construction was commissioned by Czech king and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and began in 1357.

In charge of the construction was architect Petr Parléř whose other works include the  St.  Vitus Cathedral  at  the Prague Castle.

It is said that egg yolks were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction of the bridge.

Charles Bridge

AKASHI KAIKYO BRIDGE, JAPANThe Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge is the longest

suspension bridge in the world and it is probably Japan’s greatest engineering feat. 

It took two million workers ten years to construct the bridge, 181,000 tonnes of steel and 1.4million cubic metres of concrete.

The steel cable used would circle the world seven times.

It has six lanes and links the island of Awaji and the mainland city of Kobe, a distance of four miles.

The concept of building a bridge across the Akashi Straits became urgent after a disaster in 1955.

The construction of the bridge began in 1988.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Click on the link below to enjoy a tour of the world’s famous bridges:

Great bridges in the world.kmz