When I read that this bridge carried a cable car beneath it, I was astonished.
So I looked a bit further and through the overwhelming magic of the web, I discovered that Transporter Bridges were not at all uncommon or odd, much to initial astonishment.
Yes, I believe Duluth Minnesota used to have one of these, since replaced by a lift bridge.
Posted by: Luke Francl | Jan 06, 2005 at 09:10 PM
The one in Middlesbrough is pretty well known over here in the UK and my parents remember one across the Mersey too, although that was replaced with a normal bridge before I was born.
As you can imagine, it takes a bit longer to cross than on a normal bridge as you usually have to wait for the cable car to come over to your side or fill up. There are a couple of photos of the "drivers-eye view" of using the Middlesbrough bridge here and here from when I used it.
Posted by: Adrian | Jan 07, 2005 at 03:28 AM
There's a good list of transporter bridges here:
http://www.structurae.net/structures/ftype/index.cfm?ID=2056
I immediately thought of the new bridge at the Royal Victoria Docks in London - this was originally planned to be a transporter bridge, but I can't tell if it was when built, and none of my London contacts have heard of the transporter being used.
Posted by: Chris | Jan 07, 2005 at 12:59 PM
i love the uk's transporter bridge's and i hope to go on the newport bridge
chris mckelvie age 13
Posted by: chris mckelvie | Jun 16, 2005 at 08:52 AM