Scheepsdale Bridge (Cantilever) Bruges Belgium (Brugge) Scheepsdalebrug

The bridge opens silently, notice how I miss the start of opening. Definitely of interest to all engineering fans but so was the old bridge.
This is a modern Cantilever Bridge or Rolling bascule bridge. With 15 metre high inclined roller arms. The new bridge is much wider that the previous one and has a separate bus lane and bicycle and pedestrian paths. For shipping, the central structure of the swing bridge is gone, increasing the passable width from 16 to 29 m.
The bridge is part of the N9 and crosses the Bruges-Ostend canal and connects the Scheepsdalelaan with the Blankenbergse and the Oostendse Steenweg.
The 725 tonnes weight of the bridge is balanced by ballast that is positioned in two 15 m-high arms of the bridge
The former bridge was designed by Arthur Vierendeel (1852-1940). Vierendeel taught at the Catholic University of Leuven and developed the revolutionary structure which bears his name: the Vierendeel truss.
The old bridge was also interesting from an engineering point of view in that it swung laterally, rather than opening upwards. In addition, while most of Vierendeel's bridges were welded, this one was riveted, since rivets were another construction feature Vierendeel thought should be used for decorative purposes.
The Old Bridge is still viewable on Google Maps street view (24May13). I guess the reason it was replaced is because the old bridge being a lateral was still a hindrance for larger vessels.
Although the Flemish Association for Industrial Archaeology campaigned to save at least a part of the oldest Vierendeel Bridge in the World Heritage town Brugge, they had no luck and the bridge was cut up for scrap. (search for photos of on FlickR)'
Engineering fans will both be delighted by the elegance and efficiency of the new Scheepsdale Bridge and horrified by the failure to find a way of preserving the old Vierendeel bridge.
Scheepsdale Bridge (Cantilever) Bruges Belgium (Brugge) Scheepsdalebrug

[@ghostrider090]

It looks awesome, but why is it so slow! Also, I think the boat would have fitted without the bridge opening :p

[@dmor6696]

Wish you filmed the raising mechanism, but great video anyway!
Thanks

[@HowToVideosAndTips]

My memory is a little faded but I seem to remember that I was amazed how little mechanism there was because it was so perfectly balanced it's a beautifully elegant piece of engineering.

[@HowToVideosAndTips]

Ghostrider you are right I think the boat would have just about scraped under! I think they were inspectors probably went round the whole canal. I would guess it is slow for safety reasons.

[@stevecraft00]

If this were in the UK people would die daily as they try to sneak through. More safety would be fitted here.

[@whimpey109]

Wie verzint nu zoiets!!???

[@historicalbiblicalresearch8440]

(Whoever comes up with something like that?) modern engineering can be so elegant, moderne techniek kan zo elegant zijn.