Fancantasited by bridges

JClarke

JClarke

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Earlier tonight, I watched a TV show which was telling a story how Brooklyn Bridge in New York was built, I couldn't ever imagine it will take a while to built that bridge, it amazed me. Does anyone in AD have the interest in how these old bridges such as Brooklyn Bridge, GWB (George Washington Bridge), Golden Gate bridge etc are built?
 
It is interesting.

Golden gate was really neat to learn about. They had to make that bridge flexible and wind resistance. If I remember correctly. :)
 
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. I had interested to read some books and watch tv about history of Brooklyn Bridge. I had touched on Geo. Washington Bridge while driving. but I disliked heavy traffic to slow driving on very long line everyday and everyweekend.
 
The bridge that is closes to me is the Astoria-Megler bridge which is a 4.2 mile bridge. It is the longest truss bridge in North America. The bridge connects Washington and Oregon by the Columbia river.

If you look at the picture of the bridge, you will notice that the one side, the bridge goes up and then down and is flat for the remainder of the crossing til it gets to the Washington side. The reasoning is simple: where its the highest--it allows barges/ship to go through due to the deep channel as the Columbia is notoriously known for its shifting sands which cause a lot of ships to capsized. Hence the nickname of the Columbia-Pacific, "The Graveyard of the Pacific" as more ships have sunk here than any other place in the world.
Where the bridge is located it is the mouth of the Columbia where both the Columbia and the Pacific meets--and it's v i o l e n t.

Also, if one is a barge--they have to wait for the river pilot to board their ship to cross the Columbia bar.

Anyway the bridge is neat and old but if we get winds of 50 m.p.h. or more for more than 10 minutes, the bridge is closed. The only other time when the brdige is closed is when a suicidal person decided to jump as well.....

Astoria-Megler Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
In Iowa we are famous for covered bridges. A book and movie were made about them, The Bridges of Madison County


cedar_bridge_madison_county.jpg
 
Babyblue said:
It is interesting.

Golden gate was really neat to learn about. They had to make that bridge flexible and wind resistance. If I remember correctly. :)
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The Golden Gate Bridge spans Golden Gate, San Francisco Bay - one of the most famous bridges in the world.
 
There's a nice old bridge next to a brand new bridge in Tacoma, Washington. It was built to reduce congestion and reduce commuting times which it actually did!

There was a famous accident that happened to the orginal bridge opened in 1940, a short while later the bridge experienced high winds. They called the accident Galloping Gertle, which the sections of the bridge collapsed into Puget Sound and they had to rebuild it and completed it in 1950.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galloping_Gertie

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-zczJXSxnw[/ame]
 
PuyoPiyo said:
Yup I always love to watch the steels passing by while riding cross the river, also it have very nice view of Mt. Hood.
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Do You know Vernier Software which my sister and husband own business?
 
Oh yea! I've been on few bridges...really interesting to see some bridges. :) I think Golden Gate bridge is most beautiful thing I ever seen. I've been on it few times and love to walk across it...great exercises! My hubby and I talked about go back to West, for sure we'll stay in S.F. few days to explore the city and have some fun! :) I love going to S.F. and Bay area...
 
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge. In Tampa Bay. Has some history to it to. The original bridge is now a state park fishing pier.

I remember when a barge rammed it causing to fall.

A lot of death came from it. A school bus full of children perished.

The bridge has been rebuilt next to the original. Which is now a beautiful fishing pier on both ends of the Bay.
 
I am reading all these resources on WIKI from all of you guys, these resources fancastises me. I was fancastised by the Brooklyn Bridge building on TV last night and been reading about it. The golden gate bridge is the most famous and internationally recongised around the world. But there has been an history within all bridges, such as the tacoma and its people sucidies etc. ::(
 
sequoias said:
There was a famous accident that happened to the orginal bridge opened in 1940, a short while later the bridge experienced high winds. They called the accident Galloping Gertle, which the sections of the bridge collapsed into Puget Sound and they had to rebuild it and completed it in 1950.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Galloping Gertie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

YouTube - Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse "Gallopin' Gertie"
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I remember that one--Galloping Gertie. :lol:

LakeTahoe said:
Oh yea! I've been on few bridges...really interesting to see some bridges. :) I think Golden Gate bridge is most beautiful thing I ever seen. I've been on it few times and love to walk across it...great exercises! My hubby and I talked about go back to West, for sure we'll stay in S.F. few days to explore the city and have some fun! :) I love going to S.F. and Bay area...
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Interesting enough. When the Golden Gate had its big anniversary--it actually flattened itself. You know how it is curved from the water side? That part was flat to accomodate all the people on bridge commemorating the anniversary.

Another bridge...The Mackinac Bridge crossing the upper and lower Michigan! Impressive!

http://deutsch.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/h/HOLLY/91.jpg

Bridge Camera view from St. Ignace - Mackinac Bridge Authority

Enjoy the pictures.

I have to say JClarke--good topic! BTW--what do you know about the Sydney Harbour bridge? Did you get to climb it?
 
Byrdie714 said:
I have to say JClarke--good topic! BTW--what do you know about the Sydney Harbour bridge? Did you get to climb it?
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No worries. The Sydney Harbour is a steel arch bridge, which was built in the 1930's, it has been opened to the public in 1932. See more information - Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And I want to do the bridge climb one day but I haven't yet to do so, since it is quite expensive.
 
JClarke said:
No worries. The Sydney Harbour is a steel arch bridge, which was built in the 1930's, it has been opened to the public in 1932. See more information - Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

And I want to do the bridge climb one day but I haven't yet to do so, since it is quite expensive.
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This report said "The cost for the climbing excursion is from $179 to $295 AUS and there are some restrictions in place. Visitors are not allowed to carry a camera or any other personal gear" I still confused that my brother-in-law could carried his digital camera while climbing on bridge and showed some pictures to me. He may be very lucky.
 
Chevy57 said:
This report said "The cost for the climbing excursion is from $179 to $295 AUS and there are some restrictions in place. Visitors are not allowed to carry a camera or any other personal gear" I still confused that my brother-in-law could carried his digital camera while climbing on bridge and showed some pictures to me. He may be very lucky.
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Your brother, must have paid for the photos, he didn't take it, the people who works there took these photos.
 
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