Transporter bridges are movable bridges with a suspended platform that carries people or vehicles over water. They originated from medieval drawbridges and were used as defense mechanisms. The first ferry bridge was built in the late 19th century, and only a few remain today due to high maintenance costs. The UK has the most surviving examples, with four, but only three are still in use.
A transporter bridge is a type of bridge with a moving platform suspended over a body of water that carries people or cars from one side to the other. It is designed to allow vessels to pass while the platform is out of the way. Despite its practical uses, few of its kind remain today.
Also called a ferry bridge or air transfer bridge, the transporter bridge uses a large portable roadway pulled by thick cables to transfer people and a small number of vehicles. To ensure no accidents occur, it requires constant human attention due to its interaction with vessels. Its operating times also depend on weather and water conditions.
A transporter bridge is a type of movable bridge. Its origins date back to the drawbridges of medieval Europe, where they served as a defense mechanism for cities and castles. A counterweight and winch were used to raise and lower the wooden platform, allowing allies in and keeping enemies out.
The ferry bridge first came into use in the late 19th century. During the Second World War, the first French ferry bridge across the Seine River was destroyed to stop the advance of German soldiers. Only two of these were built in the United States, one in Minnesota and one in Chicago. The Vizcaya Bridge in Spain, which was the first ever transporter bridge, was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 19.
Runcorn-Widnes Bridge, one of the first drawbridges in England, could cross the River Mersey in two and a half minutes. It was a major innovation at the time and required many improvements over the centuries to keep it operational. It carried over two million passengers and a quarter of a million vehicles annually in 1958. Bad weather caused many closures, because the portable car lacked the ability to dock. It survived until 1961, when it was demolished, for more than it cost to build, to make way for a new road bridge.
With the rapid rise of the automobile in the 20th century, conveyor bridges have largely been considered obsolete. Most cannot handle the volume of traffic and their high maintenance makes them impractical for most cities. These bridges were replaced by cheaper ones and put out of production. The United Kingdom has the most surviving examples today with four, although only three are still in use.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
