Aerial lift bridge
The Aerial Lift Bridge (also called Aerial Bridge or Aerial Ferry Bridge ) is a bridge in Duluth , Minnesota, USA . It was originally called the Transporter Bridge built and later turned into a lift bridge rebuilt. The Aerial Lift Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and is a popular attraction in Duluth.
history
The construction of a bridge had become necessary after a canal had been built between the city of Duluth and the peninsula called Minnesota Point in 1870/71 to enable larger cargo ships to enter the port of Duluth. Ferry traffic could only be carried out in the summer months and caused problems due to the cold climate in winter, a floating pedestrian bridge was impractical and too unsafe. In 1892 a competition for a bridge over the canal was announced, which John Alexander Low Waddell won. He planned to build a lift bridge. Due to the objection of the War Department , this draft was not implemented in Duluth, but in a different way in Chicago . Later a new attempt to build a crossing of the canal was started. A transporter ferry based on the example of the Puente de Vizcaya in Spain was considered. In 1901 the construction of a transporter bridge designed by Thomas McGilvray began, which he had designed after the Pont transbordeur in Rouen . Around 635 tons of steel were used for the 56 meter high steel structure. It was opened on March 27, 1905.
The transporter ferry's gondola could carry people, goods and vehicles up to a weight of 54 tons. A crossing took about a minute. During the day, the transporter ferry ran every five minutes. As Minnesota Point's population increased and tourism increased, the transporter ferry reached its capacity limit. With a redesign, a lifting platform was to be integrated into the existing structure instead of the nacelle. The design created by CAP Turner was based on the original design by Waddell. On March 19, 1930, the road and pedestrian bridge, which had been converted for around 400,000 US dollars, was released.
The Aerial Lift Bridge can be raised by around 40 meters in 55 seconds. This happens up to 30 times a day, depending on the ship traffic. In 2005, to mark the 100th anniversary of the bridge, the city proclaimed the “Year of the Bridge”, which was celebrated with numerous festivals and events.
See also
Web links
Coordinates: 46 ° 46 '44.3 " N , 92 ° 5' 34.4" W.