The Melkwegbridge, Purmerend, Netherlands

 

Often a problem for engineers is to provide for a range of people to use their designs, this bridge has done that with style.

This bridge had to accommodate bikes, pedestrians and wheelchairs. The solution? make two bridges in one.

The lower for bikes and wheelchairs, however wheelchairs need very shallow ramps for access, which made the bridge a really long Z shape, almost 330 feet long.

Another solution was to add a short but steep bridge for pedestrians who could climb up the arch, 40 feet high, and get a great view too.

The lower bridge actually swings open for bigger boats, although the pivot point is very close to one end, that’s one big cantilever

 

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