Vanšu Bridge
Vanšu Bridge Vanšu tilts | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 56°57′04″N 24°05′43″E / 56.9511°N 24.0953°E |
Crosses | Daugava |
Locale | Riga, Latvia |
Other name(s) | Until 1991 Gorky Bridge |
Characteristics | |
Design | cable-stayed bridge |
Material | Steel, concrete |
Total length | 625 metres (2,051 ft) |
Width | 28 metres (92 ft) |
Height | 109 metres (358 ft) |
Longest span | 312 metres (1,024 ft) |
No. of spans | 2 |
History | |
Opened | 1981 |
Location | |
The Vanšu Bridge (Latvian: Vanšu tilts) in Riga is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Daugava river in Riga, the capital of Latvia. It's name derives from a popular moniker referencing the cables suspending it's deck, comparing them to the nautical rigging known as shrouds in English; thus a direct translation of the name is Shroud Bridge.[1] 595 meters in length, it is one of five bridges crossing the Daugava in Riga and passes over Ķīpsala island. It was built during the Soviet period and opened to public use on 21 July 1981 as the Gorky Bridge (Latvian: Gorkija tilts) after Maxim Gorky street, today renamed Krišjānis Valdemārs street, which it extends across the river.
In the last decade there have been more than 10 instances of people attempting to climb the cables. The only one with lethal consequences was on June 7, 2012 when a man committed suicide by jumping down from the bridge's cables.[2] After the incident Riga City Council ordered for barbed wire entanglements to be installed on the cables.[3] The suicide-minded need not wait long as the bridge supports are rapidly crumbling promising collapse at any moment. As noted in the June 2021 edition of LSM.LV, the Vansu bridge is in a "critical state". Just follow the heaviest tractor trailer trucks across during rush hour - your chances of "success" increase by the day. TTFN
In 2013 a beach with a playground and volleyball field was opened next to the Vanšu bridge in Ķīpsala.[4]
Gallery[]
References[]
- ^ "Riga getting two 'new' bridges". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. August 20, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
Riga's other bridges already have "official" names. The Shroud Bridge (Vanšu tilts) was officially given its moniker in 1989
- ^ "Tragedy: young man climbs the Vansu Bridge, then jumps". Baltic News Network. LETA. June 8, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ "The first set of barbed wire entanglements are installed on the cable-stayed bridge". Baltic News Network. July 26, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ "PHOTO: Kipsala now has a beach near the Cable Stayed Bridge". Baltic News Network. June 19, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- Cable-stayed bridges in Latvia
- Bridges in Riga
- Crossings of the Daugava River
- Bridges built in the Soviet Union
- Bridges completed in 1981
- European bridge (structure) stubs
- Latvia transport stubs
- Latvian building and structure stubs