Dalbobron, Movable bridge in Vänersborg, Sweden
Dalbobron is a single-leaf bascule bridge over the Trollhätte canal's traffic channel in Vänersborg, opened in December 1963. It is 568 metres long with a navigable clearance of 15.5 metres and a roadway widened to 18 metres across four lanes. The lifting leaf was supplied by the East German firm M. A. N., and the contractor was Skånska Cementgjuteriet.
A swing bridge operated at this location starting in 1913, serving the same crossing point. The current bridge was built and opened in 1963 as a replacement for the earlier structure.
The bridge's name comes from Dal, the district on its western bank, and locals have crossed here since Vänersborg was founded in 1644, when a long pier over Huvudnäs sound was first recorded. Until the 20th century travellers paid a bridge toll, dropping the coins themselves into a box at one of the bridge posts.
The bridge is open to cars and pedestrians and lifts regularly to allow ship passage. Visitors walking the area should be aware that road closures happen when vessels need to pass underneath.
In summer 2011, the bridge closed for maintenance and a ferry temporarily took over traffic duty. This unusual arrangement highlights just how critical the bridge is to daily movement in the city.
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