The Kaiser Wilhelm Bridge ( or "Emperor William Bridge") is a swing bridge

Swing bridge

A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...

 in Wilhelmshaven

Wilhelmshaven

Wilhelmshaven is a coastal town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the western side of the Jade Bight, a bay of the North Sea.-History:...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

, and the town's landmark.

Location

The Kaiser Wilhelm

Kaiser Wilhelm

Kaiser Wilhelm is a common reference to two German emperors:* Wilhelm I, German Emperor , King of Prussia; became the first Kaiser of a united Germany...

 Bridge connects the beach (Südstrandpromenade) with the South Quarter.

History

Construction began in 1905, and at its completion in 1907 it was Europe's biggest swing bridge. The design scheme was created by Ernst Troschel, construction was executed by MAN Nuremberg

Nuremberg

Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...

.

In 2003 the rotary mechanics of the southern part of the bridge were damaged when a tugboat collided with a frigate and had to be partially repaired.

It is currently closed to the public for repairs.

Specifications

The bridge has a length of 159 m and a width of 8 m. The two pillars are 20.4 m tall. The maximum passage height is 9,00 m at + 1.10 m medium water-level in the harbour, the passage width is 58.60 m.

On the bridge the road traffic can only drive one way at the same time. It is controlled by traffic lights. Before it tilts out the bridge is blocked for the whole traffic by light signals and pikes.

Postage Stamp

In 2007, Deutsche Post

Deutsche Post

Deutsche Post AG, operating under the trade name Deutsche Post DHL, is the world's largest logistics group. With its headquarters in Bonn, the corporation has 467,088 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide and generated revenue of € 51.48 billion in 2010...

released a 1.45 euro stamp to commemorate the centennial of the bridge.

External links