Lefkada bridge, Pontoon bridge in Lefkada Town, Greece

The Lefkada Bridge is a rotating pontoon bridge in Lefkada Town that turns 90 degrees to allow ships passage through the canal while temporarily stopping vehicle traffic between the island and mainland. The structure is managed by traffic lights that control both vehicle and boat movements.

The bridge was built as a critical transportation link connecting Lefkada island to mainland Greece and stands near the historic Agia Mavra Castle. Its development reflects the growing transportation needs of the region.

The bridge's name comes from the nearby Agia Mavra castle, at whose site it was installed. Before 1986, vehicles crossed the Lefkada channel on chain-driven rafts called "perataries"; the floating bridge replaced them and raised capacity from 50 to 600 vehicles per hour. Every four years the bridge is towed to a shipyard for maintenance, and during that period the municipality charters a ferry boat whose open ramps serve both shores.

The bridge closes daily between 08:00 and 22:00 approximately every hour for 10 to 15 minutes to allow boats to pass. Vehicle drivers should expect these regular interruptions and allow extra time, particularly during peak hours.

The bridge's middle section, 50 m of its 70 m length, pivots on a propulsion system to let large ships through; for small craft the two 10 m ramps rise hydraulically. Boats with up to 2 m of freeboard pass under the raised ramps without any procedure. A control cabin at mid-span, operated by remote control, houses the console for all systems.