Pont de Kérino, Swing bridge in Vannes, France.
The Pont de Kérino connects both sides of Vannes harbor with a central rotating mechanism that allows boats to pass underneath. The rotating section opens and closes to permit maritime traffic while maintaining the bridge as a passage for vehicles and pedestrians when closed.
This swing bridge was built to develop Vannes as a port city and connect different districts across the harbor. The rotating design represented a key engineering advancement that allowed both land traffic and maritime operations to coexist.
Local residents and visitors gather here to watch boats pass through the rotating section, creating a natural meeting point linked to the harbor's working life. The bridge has become woven into how people experience and share moments of the port.
The bridge's opening and closing follows tidal rhythms and harbor traffic schedules coordinated by the harbor master. Visitors should expect the bridge to be closed to foot and vehicle traffic at various times depending on maritime activity.
The rotating mechanism was engineered to maintain a minimum water depth of 2.10 meters beneath the open bridge for passing vessels. This precise calculation shows how the structure was designed to accommodate both small and larger sailing boats in one of France's active harbors.
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