Transporter Bridge - Rendsburg, Germany


Image from Wikipedia is by Y_tambe

A transporter bridge is an aerial ferry or transfer bridge through which motor vehicles and pedestrians are transported from one end of river/canal to the other end. Basically it is a moving gondola hung on wires or iron frame having sufficient height to allow ships to pass without hindrance. Because of limited load carrying capacity of such bridges this concept didn't find favour with designers/builders and only 23 such bridges were built, out of which only eight are in use now. (Full list at - http://en.structurae.de)

One such bridge at Rendsburg, Germany is unique in the World because it is two-in-one bridge.  A conventional, cantilevered rail bridge crosses high (42 metres) above the Kiel Canal and the gondola of the transporter bridge is hung below the rail bridge by strong steel ropes hovering  about one metre above the water. The bridge was completed in 1913 and has a span of 317 metres. The gondola is 14 metres long and 6 metres wide and can carry 1 large truck or 4 cars plus several pedestrians at a time.

Image from Panoramio is by DL1LAM

Image from Panoramio is by AlterSchwede



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More info: Wikipedia

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