Calandbrug, Vertical-lift bridge in Botlek, Netherlands
The Calandbrug is a road bridge with lifting towers in Rotterdam that spans the Caland Canal in an industrial area. The steel structure has a movable roadway that lifts up to allow ships to pass underneath.
The bridge opened in 1969 and was originally built to handle both rail and road traffic as part of the harbor's transportation network. In 2021, train services moved to a new route, leaving the bridge for road use only.
The bridge is woven into the daily routines of port workers and continues to shape the industrial harbor's character. You see trucks and ships moving through here constantly, making it a busy junction in the port's operations.
Vehicles carrying hazardous materials are required to use this route as it provides a safer passage across the canal. Drivers should be prepared for occasional closures when the lifting mechanism operates to let ships pass.
A 1750-meter-long windscreen lines the southern side of the canal and protects ships from crosswinds as they pass under the bridge. This feature is especially important during rough weather and is often overlooked despite being a key safety element.
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