For Louis la Vache's Sunday Bridges here is Jerusalem's most spectacular, most ambitious, most expensive--but still unfinished--bridge!
Wikepedia calls it a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge (single-sided angled cantilever) .It will be the first such curved bridge in the world to carry a light rail mass transit system.
Meanwhile only pedestrians can use it to cross the busy intersection near the western entrance to Jerusalem.
Welcome to the Chords Bridge! I much prefer to translate its Hebrew name, Gesher HaMetarim, as the Bridge of Strings.
Click on this photo to see the criss-cross of the "strings."
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Together the 66 cables resemble the harp played by King David the Psalmist.
That was Santiago Calatrava's idea in designing this bridge for the Holy City.
You can click on my label "Calatrava" to see stages of construction since early 2007.
You can click on my label "Calatrava" to see stages of construction since early 2007.See especially http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/06/strumming-bridge-harp.html for the huge crane, Israel's largest mobile crane, which lifted the sections of bridge which were built in Padua, Italy.
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And http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/06/gala-for-calatrava.html is full of fireworks and dramatic color illumination of the mast from the inauguration gala.
And http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/06/gala-for-calatrava.html is full of fireworks and dramatic color illumination of the mast from the inauguration gala.
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Hopefully next year will see the tram/light rail up and running.
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Good grief! It looks really space age... I mean beautiful space age, that is. I can see why it would be expensive.
ReplyDeleteWhat an impression this bridge gives - its elegant in form and curves. Hope it soon will be finished.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Dina!
ReplyDeletewow this bridge is massive, thanks for all angles and views in these pictures, it's spectacular!
Hugs from Luxembourg
Léia- Bonjour Luxembourg
It's a beauty alright. I love cable-stayed bridges.
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The 1st photo is just marvellous. And the bridge is so beautiful...it'll be worth the wait.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular entry in Sunday Bridges, Dina!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting to click on the other links you've provided.
Calatrava is good for the eyes but not for the pocket. Gorgeous but somewhat unpractical, these bridges had the same problems almost everywhere he built them.
ReplyDeleteIt looks more like art to me.
ReplyDeleteModernistic bridge, so many lines and curves - quite graceful.
ReplyDeleteVery modern and beautiful design! I love your photos and how they show us a variety of angles :D
ReplyDeleteimpressive! very futuristic.
ReplyDeleteCalatrava, by the way, is also a name of a town in my home province.:p
At least it's getting some use, even if only by pedestrians! It looks like it will be nice once (if ever) finished.
ReplyDeleteThis is one amazing bridge!
ReplyDeleteit must be wonderful to view it being structured (over the years!)
Looks like quite an impressive bridge project indeed! Must be a hugely expensive building project, non?
ReplyDeleteAnd you said Jerusalem had no bridges. Not only do you have one, it's really dramatic. I think Calatrava designed the new pedestrian bridge in Venice, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful curves and cable effects.
ReplyDeleteSydney - City and Suburbs
I love Calatrava's work! He designed one of Lisbon's train and subway station I have to post soon.
ReplyDelete"The most expensive" you said Dina ? For the pedestrians ? I would have thought they built the most expensive bridge for car traffic...That's what they use to do, usually.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful modern structure.
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