Photos/Video: Longbird & Swing Bridge Designs

September 26, 2018

[Updated with video] The Ministry of Public Works will be holding an information session at 6pm this evening [Sept 26] at Penno’s Wharf to present detailed designs for the Longbird & Swing Bridges, which they said are “designed to be unique landmark Bermuda structures which will reflect Bermuda’s unique and welcoming culture.”

Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 49-minute replay is below

Images of the design, as provided by the Ministry, are below:

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (1)

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (2)

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (3)

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (4)

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (5)

Bridge design Bermuda September 2018 (6)

Update Sept 27, 9.00am: Swing Bridge and Longbird Bridge information follows below [PDF here]:

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Comments (69)

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  1. Family Man says:

    It’s designed to “reflect Bermuda’s unique and welcoming culture” ??
    It looks like a giant middle finger.

    Oh, wait, that’s not not a design flaw …

    • Onion Juice says:

      It does look like one, and its for all you haters.
      LOL

      • Mark says:

        Such an educated statement from you. Would expect nothing less.

      • aceboy says:

        I’m sure the tourists will like that and really appreciate it.

        I have no doubt that it will be named after a friend of the PLP and a plaque ala TCD will be put up glorifying God in giving the “founder” the vison. “barf”

    • Cow Polly says:

      Should be named The Ewart Brown Bridge to remind us every day of the man who flipped the bird at Bermuda

      • Family Man says:

        Good idea but I think that name’s reserved for the new sewage treatment plant.

      • question says:

        I also think the Grand Atlantic could be renamed the Ewart Brown Project. I notice they’re up there painting it green.

  2. puzzled says:

    What outrages concepts.
    We need a bloody bridge that will open; that’s all.

    Whomever is the contract winner for both with reap millions.
    Drain the swamp.

  3. Mumbojumbo says:

    Opens robustly…and it speaks of our open arm welcoming nature keeping in tune(thereabouts) with our Rich robust ole fashioned architecture…and such…I think.
    The arch shape and cables gives it an arches strength…but from above it but this design could only swing side to side as those cables are not strong sideways and the four points as is would not either.
    Tell you what…let me and Mr. Google set down and review our options…may I please have the inside dimensions????

  4. sage says:

    Good one, I can’t wait to ride my bike up and over the arches for my you-tube channel.

  5. Politricks says:

    That is ugly. Please try again.

  6. eyes wide open says:

    Looks like a Giant Baby Feeding Bottle!
    that will please Wayne,he needs something BIG to fill his BIG potty
    mouth

  7. You never listen to me! says:

    Bridge that lifts: What are the safety protocols if the mechanisms fails and the bridge comes down. How long will it take to fix the bridge if it breaks down.

    Swing bridge: Where is a modern design that swings?(I think a swing bridge is better, …….we are always straying from old school, but think about how long our old school bridge has lasted!)

  8. Mark says:

    Maybe Ewart and his cronies in government can pay for it from the raised fees theyre charging us again

  9. Bermuda Guy says:

    Is it just me or does the “swing” bridge now look like a feminine hygiene product? Also, will it still be called “swing” or should it be “up” bridge?

  10. Wahoo says:

    Ooo that bridge fully erect. How many times a day will that happen?

  11. Swizzle says:

    IM DIVING OFF THE TOP 1ST WAIT IS IT EVEN DEEP ENUFF

  12. Justin says:

    Does Longbird open?

  13. Guy Carri says:

    Exactly what we need to do. Spend millions on a bridge…not just run of the mill, custom. Never mind the underfunded pension.
    See what I did there? You thought I was going to mention buses, schools or debt and interest going up.

    • LaV says:

      “not just run of the mill, custom.”

      Exactly, they should have just ordered one from Amazon.

  14. ladeej says:

    I think the Longbird Bidge should be higher to allow yachts to be able to pass under. The Swing Bridge looks a little scary. I would hate to see it malfunction in the up position. I think it’s back to the drawing board for both designs.

    • Izzypop says:

      Yachts can go around like they hv been doing for years
      It’s ugly
      It’s not Bermuda and I am tierd of paying for all this futuristic crap

    • BoB says:

      I agree.. make the bridge high, so that it does not need to be opened and closed to allow marine traffic. With an opening bridge the cost of maintenance comes at a hefty price.. and we repeat over again what we have now. Keep it simple and practical..

  15. Dunn juice says:

    Ugly.nothing tropical about it, must be the bitcoin look.

  16. cromwell says:

    How about a sliding bridge in the shape of a big triangle.

  17. Unbelievable says:

    Oh there we go……I don’t mind the designs. I just want to know how it’s going to paid for with what money?

    • Onion Juice says:

      Same way how we got money for America’s Cup and Airport.

      • LaV says:

        “Same way how we got money for America’s Cup and Airport.”

        Awesome….so there will be 400% return on these bridges?

        Do you know what ‘return’ means, OJ?
        Do you know what ‘investment’ means, OJ?
        Do you know that you’re a racist crybaby, OJ?

        We all know you don’t, and won’t answer, unless told to

  18. red rose says:

    But how much will they cost and who will pay?

    • Beverley J Connell says:

      You can thank (profusely) IB. A group of Insurance firms have raised nearly $100 million for a fund to upgrade the island’s infrastructure.

  19. Clarity says:

    We need an opening bridge into castle harbour! There has been no traffic because it’s been shut since almost 20 yrs ago but it was busy when it did open

  20. Cedar Stump says:

    When will the protests start ?

  21. Ringmaster says:

    Both bridges need replacing, but the designs are ugly and not reflective of Bermuda. The artists impression of the bridge into Castle Harbour will require the ramp towards the airport to be about a 35 degree slope, as the span looks to be about 15 feet above the water. See how Florida Intracoastal Waterway bridges operate. A simple design using counterweights. Back to the drawing board.

  22. Stormy daniels says:

    Any contractors licking there lips yet,$$$$$$$$$

    • LaV says:

      “Any contractors licking there lips yet”

      We all know of one in particular who licks……

  23. 6mbs says:

    I’m at a loss for words. I hope they aren’t serious with these ‘concept’ designs. Less is more. Arches like that for a 30ft span is purely aesthetics and completely unnecessary. Keep it functional ministry please!

    • Real Deal says:

      i agree any aesthetics need to be practical because it added to maintenance cost

  24. spider says:

    I like the middle finger one it’s a unique Bermudian concept.

  25. ConcernedBermudian says:

    Both bridges need to open to allow boat traffic through. Look at Ft. Lauderdale, they have thousands of simple bridges and they all open. Why can’t we do that in Bermuda? Also we need a dock at the new airport. Can you do that at the same time pleaseandthankyou.

  26. BillyBye says:

    Why aren’t both bridges opening?

  27. Hey says:

    The engineering on the opening bridge is way in excess of the need. It is going to cost a ridiculous amount of money to maintain and will take an inordinate amount of time to open and close.

    Epic Fail.

  28. spider says:

    If you want a true Bermudian concept bridge you could have the “Preserve Marriage”group riding horses and pulling the bridge open. Now that’s Bermudian.!!

  29. leftfooted says:

    I love reading these comments. I assume you are all engineers with experience in bridge design and construction? Have a word with your wives and see if they trust you to put up shelves. Take the last one for example. Had Hey gone to the presentation he/she will see that the bridge will open and close in the same time as the previous sing bridge did. Can he also give us all his estimate on what it will cost, and perhaps give us examples of a better option?

    Epic fail indeed.

  30. Time Shall Tell says:

    Both look over the top & excessive with neither to scale of the true span of the present bridge. Try following the K.I.S.S rule while keeping in respect of the surrounding environment & architecture. Consider something that would be easiest to repair & maintain in the long run while trying to keep the budget respectively low. It may also be worthwhile considering a gradual arch design to allow a section that boats can flow under without the need for any mechanical aspect being required for the bridge.

  31. Me says:

    Yes,l strongly agree that both bridges need to open for all marine traffic.

  32. PokeyBermudian says:

    I really like the designs but how much will it cost?

    • question says:

      who cares? It’s all borrowed and taxpayer money. Under the PLP that’s a bottomless pit. They don’t care what it costs.

  33. somuchless says:

    PLP if you keep this up, everyone who passes will be entitled to tampon or a stiffie.

  34. Daren says:

    I think the ppl should put a toll both 5 Dollas each way

  35. Free Thinker says:

    We needed an Airport not a Bleddy hub. And the next time my roof leakes I need a new house. The hypocracy of some.

  36. BullyBreed says:

    Can someone tell me why on earth would you not design a bridge at the long bird location that is at least 20 feet above the water so tour boats can access Castel Harbour? THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE DUMBEST PROPOSAL I HAVE SEEN?

    • stormy daniels says:

      Stay tuned the current administrations in for a couple more years.

  37. Ooooookay says:

    I didn’t realize that there were so many qualified engineers on island! This may shock some people but structural integrity and aesthetics are two totally different things. What the complainers should be asking is how structurally sound is the bridge… will it stand up to a major hurricane… how is the curved button expected to act during a major hurricane…. are there any designs that would would be a better fit for the locatiion. Some folks only want a pretty bridge, but let someone get hurt or the bridge fail and they’re the first ones to complain.

    • Cow Polly says:

      At what point does the wind play a factor in the open and closing of the “not-the-swingbridge-anymore”? 10 knots? 20 knots? 50 knots?

      Think that bridge will be closed more than its open imo but I’m not an engineer.

  38. Always Thinking says:

    How much will this cost? Will you have to bring outside people in to fix it if the bridges were to break down or are you going to train Bermudians to operate and maintain the bridges.How would this affect the people that live and work in the east end? Why that style of bridge?

    • Dismissed says:

      Well the Minister ran like a scared cat when asked about the cost. Very telling.

  39. red rose says:

    Phallic?