We drive across bridges all the time and take them for granted. Have a look at this 100 year old Newport Transporter Bridge. The design is absolutely fantastic. Not practical for high volume traffic but for the time this was a very novel solution and it is still operating today.
“The height of the towers is 73.6 metres (241.5Â ft), and the height to the underside of the main girder truss above the road level is 49.97Â m (163.9Â ft). The span between the centres of the towers is 196.56Â m (644.9Â ft), and the clearance between the towers is quoted as being 180.44Â m (592.0Â ft); however, including the cantilevered sections, the main girder truss gives the bridge an overall length of 236Â m (774.3Â ft). The distance between the centres of the anchorage caissons is 471.06Â m (1,545.5Â ft). Power to propel the transporter platform or gondola is provided by two 35Â hp (26.1Â kW) electric motors, which in turn drive a large winch, situated in an elevated winding house at the eastern end of the bridge. This winch is sufficient to drive the gondola through its 196.56Â m (644.9Â ft) total travel at a speed of 3 metres per second.”
