Aerial Lift Bridge

The Aerial Lift Bridge (also Aerial Bridge or Aerial Ferry Bridge called ) is a bridge in Duluth, Minnesota. It was originally built as a transporter bridge and later converted into a lift bridge. The Aerial Lift Bridge was the National Register of Historic Places added in 1973 and is a popular attraction in Duluth.

History

The construction of a bridge was necessary after 1870/71 between the city of Duluth and Minnesota Point peninsula called a canal was built to allow larger cargo ships, the entrance to the port of Duluth. A ferry service could be carried out only in the summer months and caused due to the cold winter climate problems, a floating footbridge was impractical and too uncertain. 1892 competition was announced for a bridge over the canal, the John Alexander Low Waddell won. He was planning to build a lift bridge. However, this design was not implemented in Duluth, but in a different way in Chicago by the intervention of the War Department. Later, a new attempt to build a crossing of the Canal was begun. This was drawn a transporter bridge into account, modeled on the Puente de Vizcaya in Spain. In 1901 started the construction of a designed by Thomas McGilvray Transporter Bridge, which he had designed after the Pont transbordeur in Rouen. For the 56-meter high steel structure approximately 635 tons of steel were used. On March 27, 1905, they opened.

The nacelle of the transporter bridge could transport people, goods and vehicles up to a weight of 54 tons. A crossing took about a minute. During the day, the wrong Transporter Bridge at five- minute intervals. With an increase in population of Minnesota Point and an increasing tourism, the Transporter Bridge reached its capacity limit. With a new design should be integrated into the existing structure instead of a gondola lift platform. The C.A.P. of Turner designed Design leaned it on the original design by Waddell. On March 19, 1930, converted for around $ 400,000 road and pedestrian bridge was to share.

The Aerial Lift Bridge can be raised within 55 seconds to about 40 meters. This is done depending on the ship traffic up to 30 times daily. 2005 called on the city to the 100th anniversary of the bridge, the "Year of the bridge " from which was celebrated with numerous festivals and events.