Tag Archives: Bridges

Earthquake Engineering: The Golden Gate Bridge Is Preparing For ‘The Big One’

The B1M (April 26, 2023) – The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco is getting a huge earthquake upgrade.

IT’S the world’s most recognisable bridge and an icon of America. Defying incredible odds during its four years of construction, the Golden Gate has stood for over 80 years, and remains a critical piece of infrastructure — not just a pretty sight.

Today, it’s almost impossible to imagine San Francisco without this engineering marvel on its skyline. But that is now a very real possibility thanks to a threat that has loomed large over California for decades — a massive earthquake known as ‘The Big One’.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge may not survive this unless it’s given some serious upgrades. Fortunately, that’s just what it’s getting with a huge seismic retrofit project that should see it stand for many more decades to come.

“It’s vitally important that we protect this icon, not just so people can come and take photos, but so our region can continue to function after a major seismic event,” Paolo Cosulich-Schwartz, director of public affairs for The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, said.

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Winter Walks: Majang Lake Trail In South Korea

Seoul Walker (January 15, 2023) – It is a 220 meter-long and 1.5 meter-wide suspension bridge for pedestrians, which opened in 2017. The suspension bridge, which has become the landmark of Majang Lake, is the longest of its kind in Korea. There is also a 15 meter-high observatory and viewing deck as well as a 3.3 kilometer-long circumferential path around the lake, which are the great places for visitors to enjoy the calm and peaceful scenery of the lake. There is no admission fee or parking fee, and pets are allowed here. 

Views: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (4K)

The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.

Historical Views: Ponte Vecchio In Florence, Italy

The Ponte Vecchio is one of the most iconic bridges in Florence, Italy. It is the oldest bridge in the city (Ponte Vecchio literally translates to “old bridge”), and one of the oldest segmental arch bridges in the world. Since the Middle Ages, the base of the Ponte Vecchio has consisted of three stone arches and two piers.

The stone structure was completed in 1345, and was built over the course of twelve years. It replaced an earlier wooden structure that collapsed in a flood in 1333. Originally, the buildings on the Ponte Vecchio housed apartments and workshops, as well as butcher shops. Later, the business premises were given to goldsmiths and silversmiths, who added several structural changes to the buildings, such as bay windows and balconies.

Travel Tour: 5 Top Places To Visit In Bilbao, Spain

Who knows a city best? The locals. We picked up some tips for a visit to Bilbao from its residents. The Guggenheim Museum, Mount Artxanda and pintxos, the Basque answer to tapas, are high on the list.

Bilbao, an industrial port city in northern Spain, is surrounded by green mountains. It’s the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown. It’s famed for the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which sparked revitalization when it opened in 1997. The museum houses prominent modern and contemporary works, but it’s the curvy, titanium-clad building that receives the most attention.

In-Depth Views: The Rialto Bridge In Venice, Italy (4K)

The Rialto bridge is one of the four bridges, together with the Accademia bridge, the Scalzi bridge and the Constitution bridge, that cross the Grand Canal, in the city of Venice. Of the four, the Rialto bridge is the oldest. According to the chronicles, the first passage on the Grand Canal consisted of a bridge of boats.

The growing importance of the Rialto market, on the eastern bank of the canal, increased the traffic on the floating bridge. Around 1250, it was replaced by a wooden bridge. In the first half of the 15th century, two rows of shops were built along the sides of the bridge; the proceeds from the rents, collected by the State Treasury, contributed to the maintenance of the bridge.

In 1310 the bridge was damaged during the retreat of the rioters led by Bajamonte Tiepolo. In 1444, however, it collapsed under the weight of the large crowd gathered to witness the passage of the procession of the bride of the Marquis of Ferrara. In 1503 the construction of a stone bridge was proposed for the first time.

In the following decades, several projects were evaluated. The work was completed in 1591, with the help of the architects Antonio and Tommaso Contin, who were his nephews, as sons of his son-in-law Bernardino Contin.

Book Review: ‘Building The Brooklyn Bridge, 1869 – 1883’ By Jeffrey Richman

The Brooklyn Bridge has been an indelible part of the New York City skyline for 140 years. When it was completed in 1883, it was hailed as an engineering marvel and called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It also linked what were then two of America’s largest cities — New York and Brooklyn. The story of its construction is a drama in itself and now a new book, “Building the Brooklyn Bridge,” gives readers an inside view of the 14-year construction process that has been largely out of sight, until now. Michelle Miller has the details.

Views: The Williamsburg Bridge In New York City

Aerial footage of Williamsburg Brooklyn. Featuring: Domino Park, Williamsburg Bridge, Downtown Manhattan, 420 Kent Towers, East River, New York City.

The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Views: Cycling Bridge On Donge River, Netherlands

Cycling across the river Donge on the Willem Letschertbrug. More information in the blog post: https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/?p… and the video report: https://youtu.be/f2eOwJqBhP0

Geertruidenberg is a city and municipality in the province North Brabant in the south of the Netherlands. The city, named after Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, received city rights in 1213 from the count of Holland. The fortified city prospered until the 15th century.

New York Views: Walking The Brooklyn Bridge (4K)

The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn on Long Island. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River.