Nescio Bridge
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The Nescio Bridge (or ''Nesciobrug'' in Dutch) is a
cycle Cycle, cycles, or cyclic may refer to: Anthropology and social sciences * Cyclic history, a theory of history * Cyclical theory, a theory of American political history associated with Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. * Social cycle, various cycles in soc ...
and
footbridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...
in the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. This curved, steel
suspension bridge A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (bridge), deck is hung below suspension wire rope, cables on vertical suspenders. The first modern examples of this type of bridge were built in the early 1800s. Simple suspension bridg ...
, located in
Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
, is the country's first suspension bridge that carries only a cycle track and footway, and at almost 800 metres length it is also one of the country's longest cycle and footbridges. Additionally, it is the longest ''single cable'' suspension bridge in the
Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
. The bridge was designed by Jim Eyre of London-based
Wilkinson Eyre Architects WilkinsonEyre is an international architecture practice based in London, England. In 1983 Chris Wilkinson founded Chris Wilkinson Architects, he partnered with Jim Eyre in 1987 and the practice was renamed WilkinsonEyre in 1999. The practice ha ...
, in cooperation with two multinational engineering consultancy firms: London-based ARUP group and Netherlands-based Grontmij. The design stands out by using a single, self-anchored cable. The bridge has won several awards, including the 2007 IstructE Pedestrian Bridges Award,Nescio Bridge - ARUP consulting engineers
(archived)
the 2007 Arthur G. Hayden Medal from the International Bridge Conference in Pittsburgh, and the 2006 Dutch national award for building in steel (the ''Nationale Staalprijs'').


Location

The Nescio Bridge spans the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal, connecting the new residential area of IJburg, built on artificial islands in Lake IJ, with the mainland, landing very near Amsterdam Science Park, between East Amsterdam and North Diemen. On the IJburg side, the bridge touches down on the , a 13th-century clay
dike Dyke (UK) or dike (US) may refer to: General uses * Dyke (slang), a slang word meaning "lesbian" * Dike (geology), a subvertical sheet-like intrusion of magma or sediment * Dike (mythology), ''Dikē'', the Greek goddess of moral justice * Dikes, ...
on which Dutch writer
Nescio Jan Hendrik Frederik Grönloh (born 22 June 1882 in Amsterdam; died 25 July 1961 in Hilversum), known by his pen name of Nescio (Latin for "I don't know"), was a Dutch writer. Grönloh was a businessman by profession, but as Nescio he is mainl ...
frequently made long walks that he recounted in his work, hence the occasion for the bridge's name.


Design and construction

Because the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal is one of the most heavily used inland
waterway A waterway is any navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other languages. A first distinction is necessary b ...
s in Europe, that connects the
Port of Amsterdam The port of Amsterdam ( nl, Haven van Amsterdam) is a seaport in Amsterdam in North Holland, Netherlands. It is the 4th busiest port in Europe by metric tonnes of cargo. The port is located on the bank of a former bay named the IJ and the Nor ...
, the fifth busiest port in Europe, via the river
Rhine ), Surselva, Graubünden, Switzerland , source1_coordinates= , source1_elevation = , source2 = Rein Posteriur/Hinterrhein , source2_location = Paradies Glacier, Graubünden, Switzerland , source2_coordinates= , so ...
to its
hinterland Hinterland is a German word meaning "the land behind" (a city, a port, or similar). Its use in English was first documented by the geographer George Chisholm in his ''Handbook of Commercial Geography'' (1888). Originally the term was associated ...
, the bridge had to offer sufficient clearance to commercial shipping traffic for unrestricted passage. In order to achieve the needed clearance, while at the same time providing a conveniently shallow gradient for cyclists, the bridge has long approaches at both ends. On the north end, the long access ramp was fitted in by a long curve onto the Diemerzeedijk, whereas the southern end terminates in an expansive spiral cycle ramp. The footbridge section connects to the shore with a
spiral staircase Stairs are a structure designed to bridge a large vertical distance between lower and higher levels by dividing it into smaller vertical distances. This is achieved as a diagonal series of horizontal platforms called steps which enable passage ...
at either end. The main span was constructed off-site as a single steel structure of approximately long, weighing some . In order to obstruct the busy shipping traffic on the canal as little as possible, it was hoisted into place within half a day on 9 July 2005. The cross-section of the bridge changes fluently from a deep triangular section at mid-span, where stiffness is needed, to a shallow section that merges into the concrete approaches. The angle of its sides makes it 'stealthy' to
marine radar Marine radars are X band or S band radars on ships, used to detect other ships and land obstacles, to provide bearing and distance for collision avoidance and navigation at sea. They are electronic navigation instruments that use a rotating ...
, again to ensure that it doesn't impede commercial shipping. Additionally,
tuned mass damper A tuned mass damper (TMD), also known as a harmonic absorber or seismic damper, is a device mounted in structures to reduce mechanical vibrations, consisting of a mass mounted on one or more damped springs. Its oscillation frequency is tuned ...
s have been fitted, to prevent the bridge from wobbling as people walk across. Suspension bridges are comparatively rare in the Netherlands, because the generally soft Dutch soil makes it difficult to properly anchor the main cables at the ends. On the Nescio Bridge this was solved by anchoring the cables to the bridge itself.


See also

* The Hovenring, a circular cable-stayed bridge and bicycle
roundabout A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...
near
Eindhoven Eindhoven () is a city and municipality in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of North Brabant of which it is its largest. With a population of 238,326 on 1 January 2022,Milky Way Bridge in Purmerend, another visually distinctive cycle and footbridge in the Netherlands.Melkwegbrug by NEXT Architects - ArchDaily
(archived)
* The
Enneüs Heerma Bridge The Enneüs Heerma Bridge ( nl, Enneüs Heermabrug) is a bridge in Amsterdam, Netherlands located in the new neighbourhood of IJburg, built on seven artificial islands in the IJmeer. It connects the district of Zeeburgereiland, on the eastern edge ...
, the main road bridge to IJburg, also carrying tramways.


Notes


References


External links

{{Commons category-inline, Brug 2013, Nesciobrug, Nescio Bridge
Nescio Bridge Amsterdam
article on the
cycling advocacy Cycling advocacy consists of activities that call for, promote or enable increased adoption and support for cycling and improved safety and convenience for cyclists, usually within urbanized areas or semi-urban regions. Issues of concern typically ...
blog ''A View from the Cycle Path''. The article was written by Mark W. alia
BicycleDutch
who reposted the article on his own blog with some additional data and reactions.
A Critical Analysis of the Nescio Bridge, Amsterdam
published by the university of Bath. Self-anchored suspension bridges Bridges completed in 2006 Cable-stayed bridges in the Netherlands Cyclist bridges in the Netherlands Steel bridges in the Netherlands Bridges in Amsterdam Cycling in Amsterdam Towers in Amsterdam