Bridges of Lyon, France: Pont Raymond Barre across the Rhone River

September 2016 (45.7327, 4.8205) Pont Raymond Barre

You might have noticed in last week's blog that there was a shiny new bridge behind the Pont Pasteur. The two bridges are joined on the right bank but are widely separated on the left bank (see Google earth photo below). In that photo we can see the Pont Pasteur and today's bridge (the Pont Raymond Barre) crossing the Rhone and next week's bridges (the Mulatiere Bridges) crossing the Saone with 'La Confluence' between them.

Bridges need to be seen in some isolation to properly admire their form. However, there is too much going on around Pont Raymond Barre. Also, a bridge should flow visually from the piers to the superstructure but on the Pont Raymond Barre that flow is interrupted. There are distracting lines on the back of the piers and a full stop between the pier and the soffit. Actually the bridge looks better from a distance (see the top photo), where the interruptions are less noticeable.

The Pont Raymond Barre was designed by the architect Alain Spielmann whose book "La Resistance de Sites" was reviewed by The Happy Pontist a few weeks ago. The Pontist does a good job of identifying the deficiencies in Spielmann's designs, which may be the result of not challenging the engineer more often.

Actually, the prettiest part of the bridge is up on the deck. The timber walking surface, red sofas, and soaring arches make for an elegant environment to wait for the shuttle.

In the photo below the Pont Pasteur is on the far right, a shuttle is waiting for passengers in the center, and the stairway to the Musee du Confluence is on far left. The approach to the Mulatiere Highway Bridge and Fourviere Hill can be seen in the distance.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Los Angeles County, California Bridges: Hyperion and Glendale Bridges across the Los Angeles River (4)

August 1999 (34.1138 Degrees, -118.2654 Degrees) Los Angeles River Bridges

Standing on the deck of the Glendale Bridge and looking at the strange cutwaters facing downstream. The transmission lines cross the river south of the bridge where a big electrical substation is located. The Fletcher Drive Bridge, a seven span T girder bridge built in 1927, sits beside the substation on a large skew on a bend in the river. As we approach downtown L.A. the reinforced concrete bridges become more attractive.

Los Angeles County, California Bridges: Hyperion and Glendale Bridges across the Los Angeles River (4) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sacramento River Bridges in Redding

October 2014 (40.5930, -122.4018) Sacramento River Bridges

In this photo we can see the new Lake Redding Bridge and beyond it the Quartz Hill Road Underpass across the Sacramento River in Redding. I'm standing on the old Diestelhorst Bridge taking this photo. We'll take a closer look at all of these bridges in the next few blogs.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Sacramento River Bridges in Redding by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Doney Creek Bridges (1)

March 2015 (40.88233 Degrees, -122.38797 Degrees) Doney Creek Bridges

Just west of the old Antlers Bridge are two bridges at the mouth of Doney Creek. The bridge in the foreground is a Southern Pacific Railroad (deck truss) Bridge. Just behind it is a pretty arch bridge (6C0052) carrying Lakeshore Drive over Doney Creek. The highway bridge was built in 1927 by Harlan D. Miller. It includes a 182 ft long spandrel arch main span. Both bridges had to be raised when Shasta Dam was built across the Sacramento River in 1940. Of course, after several years of drought, the creek is close to its original elevation.

Shasta County, California Bridges: Doney Creek Bridges (1) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Komagata Bridge across the Sumida River (2)

June 2011 (35.708 Degrees, 139.797 Degrees) Komagata Bridge

Continuing up the Sumida River to the Komagata Bridge. This is another three span steel arch bridge, but with a tied arch for the center span and deck arches for the side spans. The bridge was completed in 1927. It is 480 feet long by 75 ft wide with six traffic lanes and wide sidewalks. The concrete piers include round turrets at the ends for gazing out at the river or for resting. The bridge was named after the nearby Matsugata Temple which was dedicated to the goddess of horses ('koma' is Japanese for horse). On the east bank is the popular Asahi Beer Hall and the 'Asahi Flame,' both designed by Phillippe Starck.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Komagata Bridge across the Sumida River (2) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (7)

March 2012 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

A view of the large sidewalk on the outside of the hangers on the Kachidoki Bridge. Also (shown below) is another freize of the bascule spans, but now they are in the fully open position.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (7) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (6)

June 2011 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

I remembered that I had a photo of the underside of the Kachidoki Bridge from a boat ride I took last year. Anyway, I realized that the tie on through arch bridges is always well below the C.G. of the arch rib since traffic has to get under the portal frame. Also, the tie seems much thinner than the arch rib in yesterday's photo. The walkway is supported by cantilevered members that are on the other side of the tie from the floor beams.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (6) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (5)

March 2012 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

The ends of arch bridges can be hard to understand. I would have supposed that the ends of the Kachidoki Bridge were securely fastened to big ties under the deck. They probably are, but this photo suggests that the C.G. of the arches don't line up with the C.G. of the ties. I could kick myself because I was standing on the riverbank yesterday but I didn't go under the bridge to see. I guess another trip to the bridge is in order. I'm not sure why this bridge has become an obsession to me but I might as well get it out of my system while I'm in Tokyo.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (5) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (4)

March 2012 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

Can there be too many photos of the Kachidoki Bridge? I guess I'll find out if people stop reading my blog. Today, in the pouring rain, I walked from Tamachi District to Daimon District and then took the subway to Kachidoki Station. A sign directed me to view the bridge from the Kachidoki Tower, but I wasn't able to find it. Instead I walked along the sidewalk and took some photos of the arch spans.

One of the nice things about this bridge are the wrought iron images attached to the railings. In the one below, it looks like a tall ship is just passing under the bridge as it opens (or as it's closing?).

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (4) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (3)

June 2011 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

A closer view of the Kachidoki Bridge from the Sumida River Cruise Boat.

I'm in Tokyo attending a conference on last year's big earthquake and tsunami. Hopefully I'll have a chance to walk on the deck of the bridge and take a photo in time for tomorrow's blog.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (3) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (2)

June 2011 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

Here's the view looking upstream at the Kachidoki Bridge from the back of the cruise boat that travels from Hinode Island in Tokyo Bay to just past the Asahi Brewery and the Tobu Railway Bridge. The bridge is 246 m long and 22 m wide. There are two steel tied arch spans and two bascule lift spans between the arches. The movable spans opened five times a day until 1970.

The Sumida River used to be the Arakawa until the Arakawa was diverted to the east to reduce flooding through downtown Tokyo.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (2) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Tokyo, Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (1)

June 2011 (35.662 Degrees, 139.775 Degrees) Kachidoki Bridge

Today we leave Sichuan, China for Tokyo, Japan and its many river crossings.

The Sumida River is a branch of the Arakawa that flows through Tokyo for 27 km before emptying into Tokyo Bay. Near the river's mouth is the Kachidoki Bridge, which was built in 1940 to commemorate a victory by Japan's Army. It's the only movable bridge across the Sumida, although it hasn't been opened in many years.

I've never been fond of two span arch bridges because of their uncanny resemblance to a pair of eyes. However I do like this bridge, perhaps because I own a woodblock print of it by the contemporary artist Motosugu Sugiyama who makes it look modern and exciting.

Tokyo Japan's Bridges: Kachidoki Bridge across the Sumida River (1) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Sichuan China's Bridges: Anshun Bridge across Jin River (2)

July 2011 (30.643 Degrees, 104.086 Degrees) Anshun Bridge

It's become more unusual to see a building on a bridge. However, in medieval Europe, there were so many shops crammed onto bridges, that they were in danger of falling into the water. I guess the shopkeepers knew that most people would have to cross the bridge and so it was a good place to do business. It must be the same in China. When the old Anshun Bridge was destroyed in a flood during the 1980s, the mayor eventually rebuilt the bridge to be as beautiful as possible and he put a restaurant on top to revitalize this area of town. 

Sichuan China's Bridges: Anshun Bridge across Jin River (2) by Mark Yashinsky is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.