Until 1854, when the first Accademia bridge was built, the only place you could cross the Canal Grande was at the Rialto. The last major bridge construction was on the Scalzi, across from the train terminal, in 1934.

So it’s big news when the city adds another span over the Canalazzo, even if it is in the less glam part of town, close to where the 4-wheel beasts prowl at Piazzale Roma.

Above you behold an artist's rendition of the new steel, glass and stone structure, decidedly modern in appearance. (Click on the picture for an enlargement.) Its exact date of installation is being kept a secret for some odd reason, but the Mayor of Venice, Paolo Costa promises it will be functional by the end of the summer. It is being constructed in 77 pieces in a warehouse some 30 miles away, and will be towed into the city on barges and fit together Lego-style when the magic day arrives.

The bridge was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who also designed the graceful parabolic arch bridge near the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. (I’ve got some photos of that masterpiece somewhere, but for now, follow this link). Calatrava beat out over 70 other architects for the job.

And of course, there are polemics. Many feel that its modern flavor is out of keeping with the character of Venice. (Counter-polemic from Paolo Costa: “This sends out a sign to the world of Venice's versatility and openness to new directions.”) And there are apparently serious issues about its accessibility to the handicapped. Calatrava did not want to burden the design aesthetics with unsightly wheelchair ramps (ouch), but promises that he’ll figure it something out “once it gets up and running”. I.e, he'll cross that canal when he comes to it.
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After several years of construction delays, Venice is on the verge of having a fourth bridge across the Grand Canal. The new bridge, the Ponte di Calatrava, was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, whose past projects have included the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain, the Olympic Sports Complex in Athens, and the precedent-setting "twisting torso" skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden. (Calatrava was recently the subject of an exhibition titled "Santiago Calatrava: Sculpture into Architecture" at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.)

In January, 2007, construction crews began driving piles for the new bridge in the Canale Grande between the Piazzale Roma and the Santa Lucia Railroad Station. The bridge's prefabricated sections will soon be anchored in place, and--if all goes well--the Ponte di Calavtrava should be open to the public by summer.

The new bridge will be a long, sweeping curve of glass and steel that should fit in with both the historic buildings on the Piazzale Roma side of the canal and the 1950s modernity of Venice's main railway station. It will also be convenient for travelers, who'll no longer have to go out of their way to cross the canal via the Ponte dei Scalzi or pay to ride the vaporetto.

The bridge has provoked its share of controversies. An article in Britain's Independent newspaper discusses complaints about the bridge's price, safety, and accessibility to locals and tourists in wheelchairs. (The city has promised to install "egg-shaped lifts" for the disabled, but whether they'll be available soon--or whether they'll be more reliable than Venice's existing platform lifts--is unknown.)

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Finally the 4th bridge over Canal Grande is going to be built, with a great touch of modernity. cool!

now, we only have to decide its name. ^^

That's the path that the first two lateral parts of the new bridge did:

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/4645/13mb6.png




Instead this one is the way, they will collocate the central part (during the first week of August):


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Thanks for posting. These were very interesting!

i sure hope this bridge fits in nicely :)

New bridge spans Venice's historic Grand Canal

VENICE, Aug 12 (Reuters) - For the first time in more than 70 years, there will soon be a new way to cross the famous Grand Canal in the lagoon city of Venice.

After delays, cost overruns and plenty of complaints, the main, 270-tonne stretch of the modern-looking, glass-and-steel "Calatrava bridge" was installed this weekend.

The bridge is only the the fourth across the Grand Canal, Venice's main waterway, and connects the city's Santa Lucia train station to the once more difficult-to-reach Piazzale Roma. The bridge will open to the public later this year and still awaits its final name.

For the moment it is temporarily nicknamed after its Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, whose projects include the planned 2,000-foot (610 metre) tall Chicago Spire and the new transport hub at Ground Zero in New York City.

Some Venetians have complained that an architect should have been selected from closer to home, and moan about the price tag. The 10.7 million euro ($14.6 million) project is running at double its 2001 budget.

^^ Let's hope venetians really get their money's worth

It's a nice looking pedestrian bridge but I'm surprised at something. Why is it not wheelchair accessible?

Doesn't Italy have laws requiring all new buildings and infrastructure to be wheelchair accessible?

We've had such laws for decades in Canada and I know the United States is the same. It is jarring to see such an omission.

I wonder if Calatrava goes to sue Venice too if they change the bridge to make it wheelchair accesible :)

Venice is a nice city, without this bridge would be nicer. :fiddle:

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It looks fantastic.

Finally finished?
:?

Here new photos (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=20057959#post20057959)

wonderful bridge, but the modern design doesn't fit 100% in venice

flickr

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looks very modern, clean and sleek. Does it fit in? From what I can tell, yes. Imagine building a bridge today that is supposed to look hundreds of years old.

Looks nice and modern :)

that looks quite decent

wow... space-like shape... i like it personally...

but again, i'm still wondering why doesn't have access for disabled... how far is neighbouring bridge from this one? maybe they don't have to drive far :)

^ I am wondering the same thing.

The bridge is beautiful nevertheless.

I don't know if I like it. It looks quite high. And to modern. But it's nice.

Wonderfull picture from Flickr;

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2293/2189146154_d84997dce9.jpg?v=0

Love this bridge ...shoud be build in Melaka River one!



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Nice contrast indeed!

When's it going to open? I was in Venice in early June as it wasn't open yet.

This is the first time I have written in this kind of Forum.
Just wanted to say how lovely the Calatrava Bridge in Venice is. Just returned from a visit, and the bridge, although not yet open, appears to be completed.
It seems to have had a lot of criticism -I think its modern shape and lightness is beautiful and is a perfect contrast with the ancient etheareal city.
Venezia needs to embrace the new - I can't wait to go back. Well done Mr Calatrava and good luck with your other projects too - what a gift he has.

Spanish architect Calatrava defends contested new Venice bridge
3 September 2008
Agence France Presse

Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava defended Wednesday his controversial new bridge over Venice's Grand Canal, saying in a an interview that he regretted it will no longer have a grand opening.

"This is my most beautiful bridge. I regret that the workers, who worked so hard on it, will not have an adequate inauguration," he told top-selling daily newspaper El Pais.

"They worked to give Venice a work which is worthy of Venice. It is an act of love to Venice and of love to Italian civilization in general," he added.

The bridge, a single arching span of steel and glass, was to have been opened on September 18 by Italian President Napolitano.

But on Tuesday Venice mayor Massimo Cacciari canceled the grand inauguration of the bridge due to fierce criticism that it was unnecessary, unsuitable and four times over budget. It will now be opened with a simple toast.

"I think the controversy, professionally, is useless. Before the project was approved it was on display for one year in the Piazza of San Marco without receiving any criticism," said Calatrava.

Calatrava is considered one of the world's top architects and has offices in Zurich, Paris and New York.

It doesn't have access for the disabled and they still approve this project? What the heck is wrong with it?

OK, for me personally, it really don't fit in to the whole Venice surroundings. It actually damaged the scenery. Second, why is it not accessible to the disabled? Third, why is the budget is way too high (4x) and they still did not build something for the disabled? Something is wrong here. Well, it's already finished. Good luck with the new bridge. Just an opinion, don't even try to build some new modern buildings in this city. Please!

The design is great, even for Venice.

In fact the design is much tone down compared to the other bridges of Calatrava is surely in deference to Venice's character.

Infinitely better than building a fake historical bridge in its place.

I doubt access for the disabled is any priority, when you go to Venice its impossible for a wheelchair to get around, there are so many small up and down one or two step sections its unbelievable...

PS I love it! Looks ace in photos and even better in real life, is truly magnificent!

It doesn't have access for the disabled and they still approve this project? What the heck is wrong with it?

...... Second, why is it not accessible to the disabled? ....... and they still did not build something for the disabled? Something is wrong here. ......

What I learned on my trip to Europe is that...., the disabled are helped by other people to get around. Strange concept, I know.

The bridge is open. They named it "Constitution Bridge".

The stuff for disabled people we'll be ready in a couple of months.
Of course no disabled will ever use it (ferry is ten times faster and now they don't pay), but it's mandatory by italian law and they must build it...

Some pictures (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=25223178&postcount=331), thanks to the italian forumer Manua.

AMAZING! :happy:



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wow... space-like shape... i like it personally...

but again, i'm still wondering why doesn't have access for disabled... how far is neighbouring bridge from this one? maybe they don't have to drive far :)

Calatrava did state that disabled access wasn't his part of the job. He was commissioned to create a cutting edge design for the bridge. Disabled access options are then to be implemented by the local council.

That aside, Venice is not a modern city and not designed for disabled access. Even if they could cross this bridge, their route would be blocked within a few meters. Almost all of the canals in Venice are crossed by bridges with steps. This may seem sad for those who are disabled, but there is very little that could be done due to the historic nature of this city.

So, effectively, making this particular bridge with disabled access would be for publicity purposes only and have no effect on the ability of disabled people to get around the island.

A few meters from this bridge disabled people would be confronted with these every few other meters.

(photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/7435671@N02/)
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(photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossella12/)
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(photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/24086462@N06/)
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Actually, there is another bridge on the Grand Canal really close to this one, the Scalzi Bridge. With only three bridges over the Grand Canal it is odd that this forth one was built so close.


Still, I do like this new bridge.