| Chords Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chords bridge, May 2008 | |
| Carries | Light rail (tramway) bridge / metro rail bridge[1] |
| Crosses | traffic intersection of Shazar Street and Herzl Boulevard[2] |
| Locale | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Designer | Santiago Calatrava |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Material | steel (pylon and box girder) reinforced concrete, Mitzpe yellowish limestone (abutments) basalt cobblestone paving, glass, stainless steel (walkway) |
| Total length | 360 metres (1,200 ft)[2] |
| Width | 14.82 metres (48.6 ft)[2] |
| Height | 118 metres (390 ft) (pylon) 3.815 metres (12.52 ft) (deck)[2] |
| Longest span | 160 metres (520 ft)[2] |
| Clearance below | 5.5 metres (18 ft)[2] |
| Beginning date of construction | 2005[2] |
| Completion date | 2008 |
| Opening date | 2008-06-25[3] |
The Chords Bridge (Hebrew: גשר המיתרים, Gesher HaMeitarim), also known as the Bridge of Strings[4], is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge close to the most frequently used entrance to Jerusalem, Israel, in the neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe. When the Jerusalem Light Rail is complete, the bridge will be used by trams running from outlying Jerusalem neighborhoods to the center of the city. Incorporated in the bridge is a glass-sided pedestrian crossing enabling pedestrians to quickly cross from the Kiryat Moshe area to the Central Bus Station grounds.
Contents |
History
Designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, its construction began in 2005[2] at a cost of 220 million NIS, to the Jerusalem municipality and Israeli government, totaling over twice the original planned expenditure[5]. The bridge was inaugurated on June 25, 2008 [6] in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary. Tens of thousands attended the event which added half a million US dollars to the project's budget.
Design-wise, the goal of the bridge was to add a defining visual element to the "skyline" of the entrance of Jerusalem, while on a more practical note the bridge's purpose is to carry the Jerusalem Light Rail, resolving traffic and pedestrian issues. [7] The design has spurred much controversy since, as many contend, it is aberrant to the unique look and feel of Jerusalem.
Similar to Calatrava's earlier (1992) design, the Puente del Alamillo in Seville, Spain, this subtype does not balance forces by using a symmetrical arrangement of cable forces on each side of the tower, but rather makes use of an angled cantilever tower loaded by cable stays on one side only, and consists of a single pylon counterbalancing a 160 metre span of the 360 meter structure with lengths of cables. While this leads to a less structurally efficient structure, it makes a dramatic architectural statement.
A striking feature of the bridge is a single 119-metre high mast supported by 66 steel cables[8] that, as of 2008, constitutes the tallest structure in Jerusalem (although the nearby Crowne Plaza hotel appears taller from many angles on account of being built on higher ground).[9] The bridge has become a tourist attraction and another symbol of Jerusalem, although the light rail project which is, as of this writing, several years behind schedule, will not be operative until at least 2010.[10]
Criticism
The project has been criticized as an extravagant and costly solution to a problem that could have been solved by cheaper means. [8]The aesthetics of the bridge and its impact on Jerusalem has also sparked controversy.[11] Some say the bridge, situated at the city's crowded entrance, does not have enough space around it for people to appreciate its artistic merit[12] Many feel that the bridge is simply out of its element and question whether it fits visually in the city.
A pedestrian bridge designed by Calatrava in Petah Tikva, Israel, though much smaller in size, also uses a single mast and cables.
See also
References
- ^ Jerusalem Light Rail Bridge in the Structurae database
- ^ a b c d e f g h Personal e-mail with Santiago Calatrava, LLC
- ^ "Calatrava bridge opens in Jerusalem". Bridge Design and Engineering. 2008-06-25. http://www.bridgeweb.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/1504/Calatrava_bridge_opens_in_Jerusalem.html.
- ^ "The Jerusalem Website". http://www.jerusalem.muni.il/jer_main/defaultnew.asp?lng=2. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ "Bridge of Strings fanfare despite it all - Jerusalemite - Jerusalem Metro Blog". http://www.jerusalemite.net/blog/2439/bridge-of-strings-fanfare-despite-it-all. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ Cidor, Peggy (2008-05-29). "One bridge too far". Jerusalem Post. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212041427898&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
- ^ "Pulling strings for the Bridge of Strings - Jerusalemite - Jerusalem Metro Blog". http://www.jerusalemite.net/modules/blog/blog.php?blog=2098. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
- ^ a b "Discord at opening of Chords Bridge - Haaretz - Israel News". http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/996244.html. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ Tonight: Chords Bridge hung over Jerusalem's entrance
- ^ "Going off the rails in Jerusalem - Haaretz - Israel News". http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/975689.html. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ "The bridge too far -or not far enough? - Attractions - Israel travel and tourism - Haaretz news". http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/985708.html. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
- ^ "Grand bridge for a drab Jerusalem neighborhood - International Herald Tribune". http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/02/mideast/journal.php. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Jerusalem Chords Bridge |
- "Deconstructing Calatrava - Haaretz - Israel News". http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/986228.html. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
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