5 Most Unique Bridges In The World

Ever since the dawn of time man has been trying to cross things – oceans, mountains, deserts. It’s in our blood. Of course those are far bigger than anything we’ll see today. Crossing a river with a bridge can’t be all that exciting…or can it? With record breaking achievements, award winning designs, outstanding architecture, and rich history we are about to cross 5 of the world’s most unique bridges.

* Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge, found in the city of Florence crossing over the Arno river and is so ancient that it dates back to the Roman times. Destroyed by a flood in 1333, it was rebuilt in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi. In 1565 Giorgio Vasar was commissioned to upgrade the bridge, adding an upper corridor above it. This bridge is famous for the fact that houses are positioned along its span, some of them prodding out to the side. Initially, however, they were workshops where shopkeepers such as butchers and tanners practiced their trades. In 1593 they were replaced with goldsmiths, because the shops produced too much garbage and caused a foul stench.

* Tower Bridge, England

From one historical landmark to another, this time we head to Europe, England to be exact. In the 19th century, London Bridge was the only way of crossing the Thames river. As London grew, more bridges were added on the west side of London Bridge. The east side however become a busy port and it quickly became apparent that a new bridge was needed. Planning started in 1884 when a design was chosen from over 50 submissions. It took 8 years, 432 workers, and over 11,000 tons of steel to build what we know now as Tower Bridge. The Prince of Wales opened the bridge in 1894 and It helped relieve the stress of the east side.

* Golden Gate Bridge, USA

Probably one of the most famous bridges in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon not only to San Francisco but to the whole of the United States. Designed by engineer Joseph Strauss, it was built to connect San Francisco with Marin County and to cross the strait known as the Golden Gate, giving it it’s name. Starting in 1933, it would take thousands of workers, 4 years, and 35 million dollars to complete. When the bridge was completed in 1937, it broke 2 records becoming the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge.

* Banpo Bridge, South Korea

From the vintage to the modern, this really awesome bridge is found in Seoul and crosses the Han river. The bridge itself was actually created in 1982 but in 2007 a project was launched to revive the area; in 2009 the project did just that. The Koreans had the amazing idea of adding fountains across both sides. During the day, the fountain shoots 190 tons of water per minute from each side of the bridge from its 380 nozzles. At night the color of the fountain will be transformed to a rainbow by the 10,000 LED lights which create various colorful effects. The water jets are dynamic and can move in time with the music, creating spectacular ever-changing displays. As well as being stylish, the bridge is also environmentally friendly and the water is pumped directly from the river itself and continuously recycled.

* Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia

Otherwise nicknamed the “coat-hanger” this bridge was built in 1815. Francis Greenway proposed building a bridge from the northern to the southern shore of the harbour. In 1990, design submissions were sent in but all the submissions were considered unsuitable. Fast forward to WWI and officials started to take the project to hand. An architect was found and Sydney Harbour Bridge construction started in 1924. It took 1,400 men eight years to build at a cost of 4.2 million pounds, or 6.61 million dollars. Six million hand driven rivets and 53,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction.