Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
August 24, 2020 In the state of Assam in northeastern India, a newly installed aerial tramway system in the greater Guwahati region was formally inaugurated. Guwahati Ropeway crosses the Brahmaputra River and serves as a link between the neighborhood and commercial center of Panbazar in the city of Guwahati on the river’s southern bank; and... Continue Reading →
August 18, 1957 An arch bridge in the municipality of Fredrikstad in southeastern Norway was opened. The Fredrikstad Bridge crosses the river Glomma and connects the eastern and western parts of the municipality. Crown Prince Olav (1903-1991) officiated at the inaugural ceremony for this bridge. At the time, he had been serving as the country’s... Continue Reading →
June 25, 2011 A dedication ceremony was held for the Peace Bridge in the city of Derry in Northern Ireland. This 771-foot (225-meter)-long bridge, which crosses the River Foyle, was built for pedestrians and cyclists. The bridge serves as a link between Ebrington Square, a public space, on the east bank of the river; and... Continue Reading →
May 18, 2007 The Puch Bridge in northeastern Slovenia was officially opened for traffic. This structure crosses the Drava River in the town of Ptuj. The bridge was named after Johann Puch (1862-1914), a Slovene inventor and mechanic who established himself as a prolific and even pacesetting manufacturer of bicycles, motorcycles, automobiles, buses, and trucks.... Continue Reading →
May 4, 1724 In central France, an arch bridge in the present-day prefecture and commune of Blois was formally opened. The structure, which spans the Loire river, was built to replace a stone bridge that dated back to the 11th century and destroyed by massive ice floes in February 1716. Construction on the replacement bridge... Continue Reading →
April 30, 2011 In the central region of Iowa, a paved recreational trail between the cities of Ankeny and Woodward was formally opened with considerable fanfare. The final portion of this trail to be completed was a bridge crossing the Des Moines River and located near the city of Madrid. The High Trestle Trail, which... Continue Reading →
April 9, 1906 In the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), a dedication ceremony was held for the McFarlane Bridge in the town of Maclean. The bridge, which was designed by civil engineer Ernest de Burgh (1863-1929), carries Lawerence Road across the south arm of the Clarence River. This structure provides a key transportation... Continue Reading →
April 6, 1956 An arch bridge in what was then known as the Federation of Malaya was officially opened. At the time, this country in Southeast Asia was a self-governing colony of the United Kingdom. The steadily gathering momentum for a fully independent Federation of Malaya was reflected in the name of the new bridge.... Continue Reading →
March 24, 2011 The Arganzuela Footbridge in the central area of Madrid, Spain, was opened to the public. This bridge, which took about 14 months to build, serves as a link between the Arganzuela and Carabanchel districts of Spain’s capital and most populous city. French architect and urban planner Dominique Perrault (born in 1953)... Continue Reading →
March 17, 1915 Jacob Ackerman, who earned legendary status for his longtime roles as a captain of vessels and the keeper of a lighthouse on the Hudson River, died in the village of Tarrytown in New York’s Westchester County. He was 88 years old. The New York Times attributed his death to paralysis. Ackerman was... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 