A submersible bridge is a type of
movable bridge that lowers the bridge deck below the water level to permit waterborne traffic to use the waterway. This differs from a
lift bridge
A vertical-lift bridge or just lift bridge is a type of movable bridge in which a span rises vertically while remaining parallel with the deck.
The vertical lift offers several benefits over other movable bridges such as the bascule and swi ...
or
table bridge, which operate by raising the roadway. Two submersible bridges exist across the
Corinth Canal
The Corinth Canal ( el, Διώρυγα της Κορίνθου, translit=Dhioryga tis Korinthou) is an artificial canal in Greece, that connects the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the ...
in
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wit ...
, one at each end, in
Isthmia and
Corinth
Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...
.
They lower the centre span to 8 metres below water level when they give way to ships crossing the channel.
The submersible bridge's primary advantage over the similar lift bridge is that there is no structure above the shipping channel and thus no height limitation on ship traffic. This is particularly important for sailing vessels. Additionally, the lack of an above-deck structure is considered aesthetically pleasing, a similarity shared with the Chicago-style
bascule bridge
A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- or ...
and the
table bridge. However, the presence of the submerged bridge structure limits the
draft of vessels in the waterway.
The term ''submersible bridge'' is also sometimes applied to a non-movable bridge that is designed to withstand submersion and high currents when the water level rises. Such a bridge is more properly called a
low water bridge.
See also
*
Low water crossing
A low-water crossing (also known as an Irish bridge or Irish Crossing, causeway in Australia, low-level crossing or low-water bridge) provides a bridge when water flow is low. Under high-flow conditions, water runs over the roadway and preclu ...
, a non-moving bridge that is sometimes submerged
*
Moveable bridges for a list of other moveable bridge types
*
Table bridge, a similar bridge that moves upward
*
Underwater bridge, a non-moving military bridge that is always submerged
References
External links
''Popular Science'', November 1943, '' "Ducking Bridge" Lowers Span To Allow Ships To Pass''built in Iraq in 1943 (bottom-right hand side of page)
Video of the operation of a submersible bridge at the entrance of the Corinth Canal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Submersible Bridge
Bridges
Moveable bridges
Bridges by structural type