Sorry, This one is One of Ours

[ethics]

Caption reads...This bridge is half under the water, for ships to pass and then again, it comes out on the other side. Truly a marvelous piece of engineering! This bridge is between Sweden and Denmark ... Picture taken from the side of Sweden.

The bridge (or should it be called tunnel) goes under water to allow movement of ships.

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So sorry, but this "marvelous piece of engineering" is on this <a href="http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I664_VA_MMMBT_Aerial.html">side of the Atlantic. </a>:)

Snopes verified (http://www.snopes.com/photos/architecture/bridgetunnel.asp#photo)...

[Steve]

Not nearly as impressive as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel (http://www.cbbt.com/facts.html)! ;)

[SixofNine]

Both marvels of engineering are very close to each other. On the map the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel is route 664 crossing the James River.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is route 13.

By the way, Route 64 on the map is the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

Brian

[Coriolis]

As long as we're comparing engineering marvels, I'd have to inlcude the 12.9 km long Confederation Bridge crossing the Northumberland Straight between the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

[ethics]

Gorgeous stuff, Cor. :)

[Coriolis]

Gorgeous stuff, Cor. :)

It is a beautiful bridge, and it looks great from the aeriel views, but the cement guardrails are so bloody high that you can't see anything when you're driving on it -- I have to admit I was a little disappointed by that the first time I crossed it.

[ethics]

Oh, that sucks. It reminds me, somewhat, of the <a href="http://www.firstboat.schoolreference.com/7-mile-bridge-florida-keys-1.html">7-mile bridge</a> in the Keys (scroll for pictures).

[Steve]

It is a beautiful bridge, and it looks great from the aeriel views, but the cement guardrails are so bloody high that you can't see anything when you're driving on it -- I have to admit I was a little disappointed by that the first time I crossed it.IIRC, they do that for some traffic safety reason. I think it has to do with keeping people's eye on the road, not the fantastic view, although I also think there's something about lots of people getting very disoriented on long, high bridges where they can see down to the water.

[Coriolis]

Oh, that sucks. It reminds me, somewhat, of the 7-mile bridge (http://www.firstboat.schoolreference.com/7-mile-bridge-florida-keys-1.html) in the Keys (scroll for pictures).

That's exactly what you would think it looks like from an aerial view, but it's several times as high off the water (tankers can pass beneath portions of it), with 6-7 ft solid concrete guardrails. Too bad, because the view would be breathtaking! :(

PS: Which is exactly Steve's point I guess... breathtaking view, bad for traffic!! ;)

[ethics]

Yah but I don't buy that theory by Steve (sorry Steve). If that was true, why wouldn't the 7-mile bridge have the same borders? I mean the view is the most gorgeous site I've seen on ANY bridge on many of the countries I've lived in and visited.

[MNeedham73]

The Mackinac Bridge would have to be my favorite. Not only is the bridge itself beautiful, the surroundings of it are as well.

Plus, it's quite the feat of engineering, considering it's location, the weather it was designed to be able to handle, and the fact that for 40 years (1958-1998) it was the world's longest suspension bridge.

And, it has one very interesting feature that gives a view that you wouldn't normally see, I don't think.

One lane on each side of the bridge is made of metal grating, which you can easily look through. Nothing like driving along, being able to look straight down under your car to the water below. ;)

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/images/original/fullpage3.jpg

[SixofNine]

Yah but I don't buy that theory by Steve (sorry Steve). If that was true, why wouldn't the 7-mile bridge have the same borders? I mean the view is the most gorgeous site I've seen on ANY bridge on many of the countries I've lived in and visited.

I know some folks with fear-of-heights issues who simply won't drive on long, high bridges with open views.

Brian

[Steve]

Yah but I don't buy that theory by Steve (sorry Steve). If that was true, why wouldn't the 7-mile bridge have the same borders? I mean the view is the most gorgeous site I've seen on ANY bridge on many of the countries I've lived in and visited.Retrofitting costs would be too high on an older bridge like that. It's the newer ones built that automatically limit the views over the side.

Our loss :(

[ShinyTop]

The bridge over Pensacola Bay is one you cannot see over - if you are driving a sedan. Any SUV, pickup, or tall vehicle can have a wonderful few. I think the barrier height is designed to keep vehicles from going off the bridge more than purposely obstructing the view.

[Fiona]

Not nearly as impressive as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel (http://www.cbbt.com/facts.html)! ;)Been there! Didn't go through. I was still terrified of bridges and tunnels way back then... Sorry, I did make hubby inconvenience traffic to get me outta there... either that or I was walking... fine with me. LOL How funny to think back to how afraid I was of things like that... 21 years ago.:nut:

[Steve]

It was pretty weird, the first time, you're on this bridge and then you begin descending into this hole in the water.....

[Sir Joseph]

Actually, the Verrazano Bridge was the longest suspension bridge. It is also a very nice bridge.
From 1964 to 1981, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge held the title as the world's longest suspension bridge, as measured by its main span.
http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/verrazano-narrows/

http://images.micron.com/images/education/bridges/verrazanobridge.jpg
I always love looking out over the ocean and seeing the curvature of the Earth from the bridge view.

[MNeedham73]

The main span, yes, you're right.

Not overall bridge length, however. And not from anchorage to anchorage.

Overall length:
Verrazano = 2.7 miles
Mackinac = 5 miles

Anchorage to Anchorage:
Verrazano = 7200 feet
Mackinac = 8614feet

http://www.mackinacbridge.org/

<table align="center" border="0" width="70%"> <tbody><tr><td>Is the Mackinac Bridge still the longest suspension bridge in the world?</td></tr><tr><td>Answer:</td></tr><tr><td>The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan became the longest with a total suspension of 12,826 feet. The Great Belt Bridge in Halsskov-Sprogoe, Denmark, which also opened in 1998, is the second longest suspension bridge in the world with a total suspension of 8,921 feet. The Mackinac Bridge is still the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet. The length of the suspension bridge (including anchorages) is 8,614 feet. The length from cable bent pier to cable bent pier is 7,400 feet. Length of main span (between towers) is 3,800 feet.</td></tr></tbody> </table>

[Fiona]

speaking of bridges... this is one I was interested in as it developed... not a huge freeway type bridge... just an artsy walkway... (http://www.shastalake.com/sundialbridge/index.html)
I have this magazine (http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/Redding04.asp)... nice photos

[MNeedham73]

speaking of bridges... this is one I was interested in as it developed... not a huge freeway type bridge... just an artsy walkway... (http://www.shastalake.com/sundialbridge/index.html)
I have this magazine (http://www.viamagazine.com/top_stories/articles/Redding04.asp)... nice photos

After picking my jaw up off of my desk, "Wow" is about all I could manage. lol

That is beautiful.

[Allene]

As long as we're comparing engineering marvels, I'd have to inlcude the 12.9 km long Confederation Bridge crossing the Northumberland Straight between the provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

Ah, Cor, I was going to mention that bridge! Last time I was in PEI was 1980 via the ferry. Next time we're up in Cape Breton we plan to go over that bridge.

[Coriolis]

Ah, Cor, I was going to mention that bridge! Last time I was in PEI was 1980 via the ferry. Next time we're up in Cape Breton we plan to go over that bridge.

Ah yes, I do miss that Ferry. Growing up in N.B., it was part of the "mystique and adventure" of vacationing on the Island.

My wife is from the Island, and the back and forth trips when we were dating were controlled largely by the ferry schedule -- racing to get to Cape Tormentine or Borden before the boat left, else have to sit and wait an hour for the next ferry! Unfortunately, our kids were too young to remember the ferry.

Being from N.S. you must have taken the Woods Island ferry from time to time?

My wife's family is in Little Sands, just up from Wood Islands. We've sat on the beach many a day, watching the ferry go back and forth... ah, the slow life!!! :)

[Allene]

Ah yes, I do miss that Ferry. Growing up in N.B., it was part of the "mystique and adventure" of vacationing on the Island.

My wife is from the Island, and the back and forth trips when we were dating were controlled largely by the ferry schedule -- racing to get to Cape Tormentine or Borden before the boat left, else have to sit and wait an hour for the next ferry! Unfortunately, our kids were too young to remember the ferry.

Being from N.S. you must have taken the Woods Island ferry from time to time?

My wife's family is in Little Sands, just up from Wood Islands. We've sat on the beach many a day, watching the ferry go back and forth... ah, the slow life!!! :)

Thanks for sharing your memories, Cor. I know what you mean by the island "mystique." Until 1953, when they opened the Canso Causeway, we had to take a ferry from Cape Breton Island to the mainland. I love ferries! Yes, I've been on the Wood Islands ferry from the Pictou area, but on the last trip we came back via the one to Borden because we were heading back to North Carolina. One side of my mother's family came from Scotland to the north shore area of PEI around 1790, but a couple of them left for Cape Breton in 1814.