Photos/Video: Longbird & Swing Bridge Designs
[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:
Update Sept 27, 9.00am: Swing Bridge and Longbird Bridge information follows below [PDF here]:
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 …
It does look like one, and its for all you haters.
LOL
Such an educated statement from you. Would expect nothing less.
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”
De Col. Burch Bridge.
The it would be called the ‘We don’t care what you think bridge’
Should be named The Ewart Brown Bridge to remind us every day of the man who flipped the bird at Bermuda
Good idea but I think that name’s reserved for the new sewage treatment plant.
I also think the Grand Atlantic could be renamed the Ewart Brown Project. I notice they’re up there painting it green.
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.
Bloody London bridge.
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????
Mumbojumbo ….precisely.
Good one, I can’t wait to ride my bike up and over the arches for my you-tube channel.
That is ugly. Please try again.
Looks like a Giant Baby Feeding Bottle!
that will please Wayne,he needs something BIG to fill his BIG potty
mouth
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!)
Maybe Ewart and his cronies in government can pay for it from the raised fees theyre charging us again
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?
Ooo that bridge fully erect. How many times a day will that happen?
IM DIVING OFF THE TOP 1ST WAIT IS IT EVEN DEEP ENUFF
Does Longbird open?
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.
“not just run of the mill, custom.”
Exactly, they should have just ordered one from Amazon.
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.
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
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..
Ugly.nothing tropical about it, must be the bitcoin look.
How about a sliding bridge in the shape of a big triangle.
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?
Same way how we got money for America’s Cup and Airport.
“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
But how much will they cost and who will pay?
You can thank (profusely) IB. A group of Insurance firms have raised nearly $100 million for a fund to upgrade the island’s infrastructure.
Other people’s money. As always.
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
When will the protests start ?
Yes exactly. When will those begin? Or will this be given a blind eye?
Make de call, ya only had 2 protests so far, against de Dr. and Immigration.
in English, OJ?
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.
Any contractors licking there lips yet,$$$$$$$$$
“Any contractors licking there lips yet”
We all know of one in particular who licks……
…and we know of one minister who loves titty milk
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!
i agree any aesthetics need to be practical because it added to maintenance cost
I like the middle finger one it’s a unique Bermudian concept.
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.
Why aren’t both bridges opening?
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.
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.!!
love it. hahahaha
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.
I love a sing bridge !
If it sings “we will not be moved” we’re going to have a problem.
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.
Yes,l strongly agree that both bridges need to open for all marine traffic.
I really like the designs but how much will it cost?
who cares? It’s all borrowed and taxpayer money. Under the PLP that’s a bottomless pit. They don’t care what it costs.
PLP if you keep this up, everyone who passes will be entitled to tampon or a stiffie.
I think the ppl should put a toll both 5 Dollas each way
We needed an Airport not a Bleddy hub. And the next time my roof leakes I need a new house. The hypocracy of some.
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?
Stay tuned the current administrations in for a couple more years.
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.
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.
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?
Well the Minister ran like a scared cat when asked about the cost. Very telling.
Phallic?