Talk about rolling up the sidewalks

[dianeduane]

When a barge needs to pass through the space normally occupied by this little pedestrian bridge in London, the bridge does something less than typical. 

Now playing: (Billy Joel) - Allentown

Comments

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Isn't it wonderful?

As I recall, that bridge only saves a short walk anyway, and I don't think much water traffic (if any) ever goes through where it lies. But it's oh so cute, and I can appreciate the designers trying it out somewhere where if it breaks down either up or down, no huge problems will occur.

[navigatorsghost.livejournal.com]

I may be wrong but I seem to remember that that's technically a piece of art, rather than just a bridge. I think it was built in one of those random "let's install something creative and vaguely useful!" drives that major cities occasionally have.

It's very, very cool, though. :)

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Annoyingly I live a ten minute walk away from it and have never managed to see it in use.

The area is somewhat bridge-obsessed at the moment - they had to remove the old road bridge (over the canal and the main railway lines into Paddington Station) and put in a new and wider one, which took a couple of years. While they were doing that they discovered another bridge underneath, just buried under the foundations. Brunel's original iron bridge over the canal.

So that's being restored somewhere and the theory is that it'll be put over the canal eventually, if it's ever fit to use. My guess is that it'll end up in a museum, but hopefully I'm being pessimistic.

[gfish.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's gorgeous. I found a video of it here (http://www.dandad.co.uk/awards2005/entry.asp?entry_id=J_11628). Yet another cool waterways feature I need to visit in the UK.

[bodhibird.livejournal.com]

That is so *cute*! *goggles*

[kellan_the_tabby]

I _want_ one.

[dewline.livejournal.com]

I wish we had rivers or canals small enough to accomodate one where I live.

Unfortunately, I fear the weather would mess things up.

[hakeber.livejournal.com]

That. Is cool.

[moirla.livejournal.com]

it's a roly-poly bridge! Too adorable. The only thing cuter would be a kitten bridge, but I don't think the world in general is ready for a bridge that pounces unsuspecting ankles and achilles tendons...