Gazela Bridge, Road bridge in Belgrade, Serbia
Gazela Bridge stretches 332 meters across the Sava River, linking the old town of Belgrade with the newer districts of Novi Beograd. The construction combines arch and beam elements, with the central section resting on concrete piers and offering lanes for motor traffic on both sides plus narrow walkways for pedestrians.
Designed by a team of engineers led by Milan Đurić, the Gazela Bridge was built from 1966 to 1970 by Mostogradnja and Goša. Its two sides were joined on 17 December 1969, and Josip Broz Tito and mayor Branko Pešić opened it on 4 December 1970, together with the highway through Belgrade, the Mostar interchange and the Terazije Tunnel. A major reconstruction followed in 2010–2011.
The name was coined by Đorđe Lazarević, head of the design competition jury, who said the bridge "leaped over the Sava like a jumping gazelle"; it appeared in newspaper reports by 1968, before the bridge opened. In the late 2010s proposals to rename it after mayor Branko Pešić were dropped.
The roadway stays open around the clock for vehicles, while the walkways remain accessible to pedestrians wanting to cross the river. Strong wind can occur occasionally, so sturdy footwear is advisable when walking across the structure.
The 22.8-metre clearance at mid-span is measured at median water level, and the bridge was designed for 38,000 vehicles a day but carries over 165,000. Its main girder cracked in 2010, forcing a full closure for seven days while 1,500 tonnes of steel went into the repair.
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