Austrian engineers build a unique folding bridge

Employees of the Vienna Technical University develop an incredible engineering structure, marking the beginning of a new era in construction.

The idea of building a folding bridge dates back from 2006, bringing it to life, has taken fourteen years. However, the result was unquestionably worth the wait. Like an umbrella, the structure unfolds at the sides, connecting the banks with each other. Which is an entirely new approach towards the construction of bridges, this will perhaps, serve as inspiration and example to engineers from other countries.

The structure consists of beams connected to each other. They are mounted on a pier and can be hydraulically swung smoothly in different directions, up to a horizontal position.

They are then filled with concrete, and a fully functioning road appears, connecting the banks of the river. The developers claim that this new approach provides construction with high stability. Hence, the safety of such structures is no different from other traditional bridges. At the same time, the speed of construction and creation of these structures is considerably higher.