Schwanentorbrücke, Vertical-lift road bridge in Duisburg, Germany
The Schwanentorbrücke is a vertical-lift road bridge in Duisburg with four distinctive towers. Each tower features large glass lanterns that emit green lights to signal safe passage for ships navigating below.
The bridge was built in 1950 during post-war reconstruction following World War II. It replaced an earlier structure from 1844 that served pedestrians and traders crossing the waterway.
The name comes from Schwanenturm, a medieval watchtower that once guarded the city walls. Visitors can sense this historical connection in how the modern bridge references its past.
The bridge is accessible at ground level and easy to walk across for pedestrians. Visitors can watch ship passages from the walkways when the bridge performs its lifting operation.
Each of the four towers contains several tons of counterweights that assist in lifting the central span. This system allows the bridge to raise and lower smoothly while using electric motors very efficiently for the operation.
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