We’ve got a thing for criss-crossing bridges at the moment so here’s
another one, this time designed by
NEXT Architects and
Rietveld Landscape for
Amsterdam.
Called Melkwegbridge, the design separates pedestrian traffic from
cyclists and wheelchair users.
Pedestrians cross over an arc to afford views from the summit, while
the path for those on wheels zig-zags agross the water in order to
achieve the required length to create a gentle slope between the banks
of different heignts.
The lower deck with split in two and both parts will revolve to allow
boats through.
Here’s some more information from NEXT Architects:
The Melkwegbrug (Milky Way Bridge), a continuation of the Melkweg, is
part of the Kanaalsprong master plan and connects the Weidevenne
district to the historical city centre of Purmerend, north of Amsterdam.
To conform to the angle of inclination requirements with regard to
bicycle and wheelchair traffic, we needed a length of over 100 m.
We therefore decided to separate bicycle and wheelchair traffic from
pedestrian traffic.
Pedestrians cross the canal by a high arch, reach a height of over 12
m and stand a chance of a vista: the connection between the old and the
new becomes perceivable here.
The bridge thus becomes more than just the fastest possible crossing,
it becomes an end and an attraction in itself.
Because pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic are separated, the
footbridge can continue the direct line of the Melkweg in the direction
of the centre.
The bicycle bridge coils over the water to create sufficient length
to limit the angle of inclination of the bicycle path.
The section that opens is divided diagonally and consists of two
revolving bridge decks.
from dezeen
