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Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2019 11:03 pm
by Gfamily
Just watched the Channel 5 programme about the Millau Viaduct. Having seen it under construction since 2002 and been over it several times, I have great affection for it.
Well worth watching even if you don't
https://www.my5.tv/world-s-greatest-bri ... au-viaduct
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:12 am
by greyspoke
I will have a look at that.
I saw the one about the Severn Bridge (which I see was originally made n 2017). Not as good as a BBC one about it recently but interesting.
I have an interest in the Severn bridges, on my first visit to Wales (where I now live) we went over the first one when it was a new thing, and I still have a little book about it somewhere (with black and white photos). Aust services seemed very grand, overlooking it. It was all very impressive.
Then when I moved to Wales I commuted over them for 5 years, first on the old one, then on the new one, which I had watched slowly emerging during my journeys.
And now they are both in public ownership the whole story seems to have reaches a conclusion of sorts. Though naming the new one the Prince of Wales Bridge was taken by many as a bit of a kick in the teeth.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 1:36 pm
by Woodchopper
Thread moved to Weighty Matters at the request of Gfamily
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:45 pm
by Ben B
I think the
Øresund Bridge is pretty cool, and not just because of the murder drama.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:52 pm
by lsnduck
Ben B wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:45 pm
I think the
Øresund Bridge is pretty cool, and not just because of the murder drama.
I'm not sure what would terrify me more, going over the bridge or through the tunnel.
More seriously, is the island at risk from rising sea levels?
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 4:02 pm
by Gfamily
greyspoke wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:12 am
I will have a look at that.
I saw the one about the Severn Bridge (which I see was originally made n 2017). Not as good as a BBC one about it recently but interesting.
I have an interest in the Severn bridges, on my first visit to Wales (where I now live) we went over the first one when it was a new thing, and I still have a little book about it somewhere (with black and white photos). Aust services seemed very grand, overlooking it. It was all very impressive.
Then when I moved to Wales I commuted over them for 5 years, first on the old one, then on the new one, which I had watched slowly emerging during my journeys.
And now they are both in public ownership the whole story seems to have reaches a conclusion of sorts. Though naming the new one the Prince of Wales Bridge was taken by many as a bit of a kick in the teeth.
The first holiday I really remember involved getting the ferry across from Beachley to Aust - and as I recall, we detoured slghtly to take us underneath the incomplete bridge.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Thu Nov 14, 2019 4:25 pm
by greyspoke
I been over the Oresund bridge by train. It was a bit of an anti-climax, you can't see much from the train deck.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 9:54 am
by tom p
lsnduck wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:52 pm
Ben B wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 3:45 pm
I think the
Øresund Bridge is pretty cool, and not just because of the murder drama.
I'm not sure what would terrify me more, going over the bridge or through the tunnel.
More seriously, is the island at risk from rising sea levels?
If it is, then it's small enough that it would be pretty cheap to increase the height of the sea defences all round it.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:33 am
by FredM
Agree about the Millau bridge. Used to cross it regularly when I lived in Montpellier. The
Vasco da Gama bridge in Portugal is one of my favourites.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:49 am
by Gfamily
FredM wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:33 am
Agree about the Millau bridge. Used to cross it regularly when I lived in Montpellier. The
Vasco da Gama bridge in Portugal is one of my favourites.
I'm astounded by the elegance of the Garabit viaduct
Also love that the same company built the Millau Viaduct
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:06 am
by Gentleman Jim
- 40-William-Preston-Lane-Bridge-–-Maryland.jpg (167.76 KiB) Viewed 6675 times
When visiting my wife's family in Baltimore, I have so far managed to avoid driving over this.
Apparently, it is scary enough that you can hire people to drive you and your car across
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 11:47 am
by Ben B
And the Golden Gate Bridge is very pretty.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 12:35 pm
by FredM
Gfamily wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:49 am
FredM wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 10:33 am
Agree about the Millau bridge. Used to cross it regularly when I lived in Montpellier. The
Vasco da Gama bridge in Portugal is one of my favourites.
I'm astounded by the elegance of the Garabit viaduct
Also love that the same company built the Millau Viaduct
Another one I know! We stayed overnight at an hotel near the Garabit a few years ago. The evening was enlivened by a pair of red kites hunting close to the viaduct.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:06 pm
by dccarm
Not the greatest by anyone's measure, but this has been a favourite of mine for as long as I can remember;
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:14 pm
by Gfamily
It's got heft!
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:22 pm
by bjn
And not just because I'm originally a Syndeysider.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:23 pm
by Woodchopper
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:24 pm
by Gfamily
Not sure what to make about this one - it's to carry the Lichfield canal over the M6 Toll, when they have
a canal that reaches that far.
- dryqueduct.JPG (88.49 KiB) Viewed 6628 times
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:15 pm
by Lew Dolby
Not strictly a bridge, but I love the Pont du Gard (grad, France) not least because it's a dry-stone construction - not an ounce of mortar in it.
[note to self: find out how to post piccies, idiot]
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:21 pm
by username
I'm still very fond of
Heatherwick's rolling bridge.
- RollingBridge.jpg (183.46 KiB) Viewed 6613 times
The
Citadel Bridge is also pretty, and makes a point.
Calatrava's work will also make most people go
how? enough to almost occlude the
why? eg
but I think my all time top bridge is the Pont du Gard.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:24 pm
by Gfamily
Lew Dolby wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:15 pm
Not strictly a bridge, but I love the Pont du Gard (grad, France) not least because it's a dry-stone construction - not an ounce of mortar in it.
[note to self: find out how to post piccies, idiot]
I walked across it along the top layer (when that was allowed), so I think that makes it a bridge
The aqueduct through the centre of Segovia is pretty impressive. But that's not a bridge, so you can do your own lookingup
https://tanamatales.com/wp-content/uplo ... G_7026.jpg
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 4:25 pm
by dyqik
Wheatstone
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:23 pm
by Boustrophedon
bjn wrote: ↑Fri Nov 15, 2019 3:22 pm
And not just because I'm originally a Syndeysider.
I'm very fond of its prototype.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:28 pm
by Boustrophedon
I thought the Humber bridge quite impressive, it was after all the longest bridge in the world for quite some time, the fact that it goes from somewhere no one wants to have been to nowhere else in particular only enhances its charm.
Funny after you have been across it a few times it becomes just another bit of road.
Re: Worlds Greatest Bridges
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2019 5:34 pm
by Gawdzilla Sama
THE RION-ANTIRION BRIDGE
An Engineering Marvel Spanning the Gulf of Corinth, Greece
