Swing bridge
AncestorTruss bridge, cantilever bridge
RelatedOther moving types: Bascule bridge, drawbridge, jetway, vertical-lift bridge, tilt bridge
DescendantGate-swing bridge – see Puente de la Mujer
CarriesAutomobile, truck, light rail, heavy rail
Span rangeShort
MaterialSteel
MovableYes
Design effortMedium
Falsework requiredNo

A swing bridge (or swing span bridge) is a movable bridge that can be rotated horizontally around a vertical axis. It has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its center of gravity, about which the swing span (turning span) can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right.

In its closed position, a swing bridge carrying a road or railway over a river or canal, for example, allows traffic to cross. When a water vessel needs to pass the bridge, road traffic is stopped (usually by traffic signals and barriers), and then motors rotate the bridge horizontally about its pivot point. The typical swing bridge will rotate approximately 90 degrees, or one-quarter turn; however, a bridge which intersects the navigation channel at an oblique angle may be built to rotate only 45 degrees, or one-eighth turn, in order to clear the channel. Small swing bridges as found over narrow canals may be pivoted only at one end, opening as would a gate, but require substantial underground structure to support the pivot.

Advantages

Disadvantages

Examples

Albania

Argentina

Australia

Belgium

Belize

Canada

Bridge Name Waterway Co-ordinates Status Comments
Cambie Street Bridge Connaught Bridge False Creek, Vancouver, British Columbia 49°16′19″N 123°6′54″W / 49.27194°N 123.11500°W / 49.27194; -123.11500 (Cambie Street Bridge) Demolished/replaced (1985), formerly vehicle, pedestrian & streetcar traffic Short documentary "Swingspan" tells the history of the bridge and its demolition.
Canso Canal Bridge Canso Canal, Nova Scotia 45°38′50″N 61°24′45″W / 45.64722°N 61.41250°W / 45.64722; -61.41250 (Canso Swing Bridge) Still swings, Vehicle/Rail Traffic Links Nova Scotia mainland with Cape Breton Island with 2 traffic lanes of Highway 104 (the Trans-Canada Highway) as well as a single track railway line operated by the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS).
CNR Bridge Fraser River, British Columbia 49°11′50″N 122°55′24″W / 49.19722°N 122.92333°W / 49.19722; -122.92333 (CNR Bridge) Still swings, Rail Traffic Between Queensborough in New Westminster, British Columbia and the mainland
Derwent Way Bridge Fraser River, British Columbia 49°11′09″N 122°55′55″W / 49.18583°N 122.93194°W / 49.18583; -122.93194 (Derwent Way Bridge) Still swings, Vehicle/Rail Traffic Between Queensborough in New Westminster, British Columbia and Annacis Island in Delta, British Columbia
Fredericton Railway Bridge Fredericton, New Brunswick 45°57′25″N 66°37′43″W / 45.95694°N 66.62861°W / 45.95694; -66.62861 (Fredericton Train Bridge) No longer swings, pedestrian traffic. Constructed in 1887 and opened 1889. Last train on the bridge was in 1996.
Grand Narrows Bridge Barra Strait, Bras d'Or Lake, Nova Scotia 45°57′35.75″N 60°48′1.03″W / 45.9599306°N 60.8002861°W / 45.9599306; -60.8002861 (Grand Narrows Bridge) Was last opened for marine traffic on December 30, 2014 remaining open for marine traffic since that date, no longer swings, Rail Traffic cannot cross. Carrying the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway (CBNS).
Hog's Back Bridge Rideau Canal, Ottawa, Ontario 45°22′11″N 75°41′54″W / 45.36972°N 75.69833°W / 45.36972; -75.69833 (Hog's Back Bridge) Still swings, Vehicle Traffic This bridge swings from one end. There is an adjacent fixed bridge over Hog's Back Falls
Iron Bridge Third Welland Canal, Thorold, Ontario 43°08′15″N 79°10′38″W / 43.13750°N 79.17722°W / 43.13750; -79.17722 (Iron Bridge) No longer swings, Rail Traffic Carrying the CNR Grimsby Subdivision over the third Welland Canal.
Kaministiquia River Swing Bridge Kaministiquia River, Thunder Bay, Ontario 48°21′31″N 89°17′15″W / 48.35861°N 89.28750°W / 48.35861; -89.28750 (Kaministiquia River Swing Bridge) No longer swings. Road and rail traffic only. Currently closed due to 29 October 2013 fire[2] Built in 1908 by Grand Trunk Railway; currently owned by the CNR
Little Current Swing Bridge North Channel, Little Current, Ontario 45°58′48″N 81°54′50″W / 45.98000°N 81.91389°W / 45.98000; -81.91389 (Little Current Swing Bridge) Still swings, Vehicle Traffic (formerly rail) Built by Algoma Eastern Railway, 1913
Montrose Swing Bridge Welland River, Niagara Falls, Ontario 43°02′45″N 79°07′11″W / 43.04583°N 79.11972°W / 43.04583; -79.11972 (Montrose Swing Bridge) No longer swings, Rail Traffic Formerly Canada Southern Railway, now CPR
Moray Bridge Middle Arm of the Fraser River, Richmond, British Columbia 49°11′30″N 123°08′13″W / 49.19167°N 123.13694°W / 49.19167; -123.13694 (Moray Bridge) Still swings; Eastbound Vehicle Traffic Connects Sea Island, Richmond, BC (location of Vancouver International Airport) to Lulu Island, Richmond, BC
New Westminster Bridge Fraser River, British Columbia 49°12′29″N 122°53′38″W / 49.20806°N 122.89389°W / 49.20806; -122.89389 (New Westminster Bridge) Still swings, Rail Traffic, formerly had 2nd deck for vehicles Between New Westminster and Surrey.
Pitt River Bridge Pitt River, British Columbia 49°14′52″N 122°43′44″W / 49.24778°N 122.72889°W / 49.24778; -122.72889 (Pitt River Bridge) No longer swings, Vehicle Traffic Twin side-by-side bridges connecting Port Coquitlam, British Columbia to Pitt Meadows, British Columbia
Pitt River Railway Bridge Pitt River, British Columbia 49°14′42″N 122°44′01″W / 49.24500°N 122.73361°W / 49.24500; -122.73361 (Pitt River Bridge) Still swings – Rail Traffic (Please Contribute)
Wasauksing (Rose Point) Swing Bridge South Channel, Georgian Bay, near Parry Sound, Ontario 45°18′54″N 80°2′40″W / 45.31500°N 80.04444°W / 45.31500; -80.04444 (Wasauksing Swing Bridge) Still swings, Vehicle Traffic (formerly rail) Links Wasauksing First Nation (Parry Island) to the mainland at Rose Point
Welland Canal, Bridge 15 Welland Recreational Waterway, Welland, Ontario 42°58′37″N 79°15′21″W / 42.97694°N 79.25583°W / 42.97694; -79.25583 (Welland Canal, Bridge 15) No longer swings, Rail Traffic Built by Canada Southern Railway, c. 1910. Now operated by Trillium Railway
Welland Canal, Bridge 20 Approach Span 2nd and 3rd Welland Canal, Port Colborne, Ontario 42°53′14″N 79°14′58″W / 42.88722°N 79.24944°W / 42.88722; -79.24944 (Welland Canal, Bridge 20 approach) No longer swings, Abandoned (formerly rail) Abandoned 1998 when adjacent Vertical-lift bridge was dismantled.
Bergen Cut-off Bridge Red River, Winnipeg, Manitoba 49°56′49″N 97°5′53″W / 49.94694°N 97.09806°W / 49.94694; -97.09806 (Bergen Cut-off Railway Bridge) Centre span permanently in open position, allowing unrestricted river traffic Decommissioned CPR railway bridge (last used in 1946)
Superstructure built by Dominion Bridge Co. 1913–1914
Pont CN-Du port Lachine Canal, Montreal, Quebec 45°29′24.9″N 73°33′26.1″W / 45.490250°N 73.557250°W / 45.490250; -73.557250 (Canal Lachine Bridge) No longer swings. Abandoned CN railway swing bridge in the middle of Lachine Canal. Constructed in 1912 by the Dominion Bridge Company for the Grand Trunk Railway company.[3] The pivot system and the cockpit are still in place, but the bridge has not been operational since the late 1960s.[4]

China

Denmark

Egypt

Estonia

France

Germany

India

Ireland

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania

The Netherlands

Many inner cities have swing bridges, since these require less street space than other types of bridges.

New Zealand

(A "swing bridge" in New Zealand refers to a flexible walking track bridge which "swings" as one walks across.)[12]

Panama

Poland

South Africa

Taiwan

Ukraine

United Kingdom

In the UK, there is a legal definition in current statute as to what is or is not a 'swing bridge'.[15]

United States

The largest double swing-span bridge in the United States is the 3,250 feet (990 m) long, 450 feet (140 m) navigable span, 60 feet (18 m) clearance George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge.[19]

Omaha NE Turn Style Bridge is now a historical landmark. Located 86H674H5+98 Used for rail transport. Connecting Council Bluffs, Iowa to downtown Omaha, Nebraska

Uruguay

Vietnam

See also

References

  1. "Gloednieuwe brug in Zeebrugge feestelijk geopend: "Het is de langste beweegbare draaibrug van Europa" | VRT NWS: Nieuws". 22 May 2022.
  2. "Burned bridge fate in CN's hands, officials say". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013.
  3. "Connection". login.ville.montreal.qc.ca.
  4. "Lieu historique national du Canal-de-Lachine" (PDF) (in French). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2021.
  5. Williams, Fran (14 August 2019). "WilkinsonEyre creates £9m cycle and pedestrian bridge for Copenhagen harbour". Architects Journal.
  6. "Næstved Svingbro". www.vejdirektoratet.dk.
  7. "Odin's Bridge (Odins Bro) new landmark". Odense Havn.
  8. "Photograph of the Ponte Girevole (Taranto, Italy) while fully open" (JPG). Cityofart.net.
  9. "Apertura Ponte Girevole Taranto". 16 April 2008. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. "A7 Afsluitdijk Kornwerderzand: werkzaamheden Lorentzsluizencomplex 9–26 april 2018". 3 April 2018.
  11. "Draaibrug over het kanaal Gent-Terneuzen bij Sas van Gent". Beeldbank Zeeland Seaports. 1 August 1977. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016.
  12. Walkway swingbridge manual / prepared and finalised by S. Chiet ... [et al.] Published by : New Zealand Forest Service, Wellington [N.Z.] : 1986.
  13. "Great Harbor Bridge". Kaohsiung Travel.
  14. "History". Kyivdiprotrans Institute. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
  15. Highways Act 1980. London: HMSO. 1980.
  16. "Shotton Steelworks – general scenes". Archived from the original on 11 January 2011.
  17. "£117M twin-leaf opening road bridge across River Clyde opens to traffic". 9 May 2025.
  18. Historic England. "The Toll Bridge (1343735)". National Heritage List for England.
  19. "BUILDING BIG: Databank: George P. Coleman Bridge". Pbs.org. 13 May 1995. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  20. "Alanson Swing Bridge". fairbairnrealtyblog.com. Northern Michigan lifestyle, history & real estate blog. 26 August 2021.
  21. "Moveable Bridges". Stroud Valleys Canal Company.
  22. "About Us". Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. 11 March 2022.
  23. Wood Wortman, Sharon; Wortman, Ed (2006). The Portland Bridge Book (3rd ed.). Urban Adventure Press. pp. 119–120. ISBN 0-9787365-1-6.
  24. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  25. "Photo: UP 8007 Union Pacific EMD SD9043MAC at Clinton, Iowa by Eric Salter". Railpictures.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  26. "Photo: UP 3806 Union Pacific EMD SD70M at Clinton, Iowa by Eric Salter". Railpictures.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  27. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  28. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  29. "Historic Fort Denaud Swing Span Bridge, History of the Fort Denaud Bridge The Fort Denaud Bride is a vital link between residents and agricultural operations on both sides of the Caloosahatchee River". hendryfla.net. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018.
  30. "Bridge: GTW Grand Haven Swing Bridge". Michiganrailroads.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  31. "International Railroad Bridge". Buffaloah.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  32. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  33. Amtrak Moveable Bridge Smart Card
  34. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  35. "Photo: NS 9869 Norfolk Southern GE C40-9W (Dash 9-40CW) at Toledo, Ohio by Matt Smith". Railpictures.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  36. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  37. "North Landing Bridge (Mt. Pleasant Rd)". Archived from the original on 16 August 2016.
  38. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  39. "Historic "S" Swing Bridge". visitnc.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018.
  40. "West Seattle Connection: World's Only Hydraulically Operated Double-Leaf Concrete Swing Bridge" (PDF). City of Seattle Engineering Department. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016.
  41. "Freight – Q324 Crosses the St. Joseph River on a wonderful may evening – Railroadfan.com Photo Gallery". Railroadfan.com. 9 June 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  42. Leaphart, David (2016). Walt Disney World Railroads Part 3: Yucatan Jewels (1st ed.). Steel Wheel on Steel Rail Studio. pp. 148–149. ISBN 978-1-533-03707-7.
  43. "Google Maps". Google Maps.
  44. "Han River Bridge: Discover an iconic symbol of Da Nang City". vinwonders. 7 December 2024.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Swing bridges.