Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
December 10, 2009 A cable-stayed swing bridge in Dublin, the capital city of the Republic of Ireland, was formally opened to pedestrians. Emer Costello (born in 1962), the lord mayor of Dublin, officiated at these inaugural festivities. The bridge was first opened to motor vehicle traffic the next morning. This 403.5-foot (123-meter)-long structure crosses the... Continue Reading →
December 3, 2011 A walking trail that courses through both of New Zealand’s main islands was officially opened. This trail -- better known in New Zealand as a tramping route --is named Te Araroa, a Māori phrase that means “The Long Pathway.” Te Araroa covers approximately 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometers) altogether between Cape Reinga /... Continue Reading →
November 20, 1854 One of the first bridges to be built in the Italian city of Venice was opened to the public. This steel bridge for pedestrians spanned the Grand Canal, which is the main canal crossing Venice’s historic center. While there had been discussions about constructing a bridge in this vicinity as far... Continue Reading →
November 6, 2015 The Lafitte Greenway, a trail for bicycles and pedestrians, was dedicated in New Orleans. This 2.6-mile (4.2-kilometer) trail courses through the Big Easy’s neighborhoods of Tremé, Lafitte, and Mid-City. The grand opening of the Lafitte Greenway took place on a Friday morning. Susan Guidry, a city councilwoman, used her remarks to acknowledge... Continue Reading →
October 22, 1958 On a rainy Wednesday afternoon, a dedication ceremony was held for a pedestrian bridge crossing the Delaware River and connecting the borough of Portland, Pennsylvania, with the community of Columbia in Knowlton Township, New Jersey. This new structure replaced a covered bridge that had been constructed in 1869 and was destroyed by... Continue Reading →
October 14, 1812 Construction began on Regent’s Canal in England. The original part of this project started in the area just north of central London. The canal was designed by noted architect John Nash (1752-1835) and owes its name to the then-Prince of Wales and future King George IV (1762-1830), who had assumed the role of... Continue Reading →
September 27, 1980 A dedication ceremony was held for a bridge in the city of Eugene in Oregon’s Lane County. Knickerbocker Bicycle Bridge, as it is popularly known, crosses the Willamette River. While originally built for use by the Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) for carrying a water main across the river, the bridge... Continue Reading →
September 26, 2011 In the regional county municipality of Arthabaska in Canada’s province of Quebec, the Joseph-Édouard-Perrault Bridge in the municipality of Warwick was reopened following extensive renovations. This wooden covered bridge crosses the Rivière des Pins (River of the Pines), which is a tributary of the Nicolet River. The Joseph-Édouard-Perrault Bridge was built in... Continue Reading →
September 24, 1973 Phra Pin Klao Bridge, which crosses the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, made its debut. This 2,158-foot (658-meter)-long structure serves as a link between the areas of Rattanakosin Island and Thonburi in Thailand’s capital and most populous city. Phra Pin Klao Bridge accommodates both motor vehicles and pedestrians. This bridge is located... Continue Reading →
September 10, 1932 In northwestern Massachusetts, a newly built bridge crossing the Connecticut River was opened. The French King Bridge serves as a link between the towns of Erving and Gill. This bridge was named after French King Rock, a nearby geographical feature. Approximately 15,000 people showed up on that Saturday for the inaugural festivities... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 