The Ganter River Vision Bridge Over Untroubled Water Built In Four Years

During the time since I learned that the Trinity River Vision Boondoggle's Three Bridges Over Nothing are going to take four years to build I have verbalized, a time or two, my bum puzzlement that three puny bridges over nothing could take so long to build.

I have also verbalized my bum puzzlement at the fact that near as I can tell no locals are asking why the Boondoggle's bridges are being built in slow motion, causing traffic woes for years, what with the bridges alleged to be a key part of a much needed flood control and economic development project.

A few weeks ago when Spencer Jack drove across the Golden Gate Bridge it occurred to me to wonder how long that bridge over very turbulent water took to build.

Four years.

Four years to build one of the most iconic, signature bridges, if not the most iconic, signature bridge in the world.

The chief propaganda purveyor for the Boondoggle, J.D. Granger, has touted the Boondoggle's Bridges Over Nothing as being signature bridges that are being built before the un-needed flood diversion channel diverts water under the bridges because bridges are supposedly easier and cheaper to build when there is no pesky water involved.

A couple days ago it occurred to me to wonder how long it took to build the new Tacoma Narrows Suspension Bridge, over very turbulent water.

A little more than four years.

I have in my possession an informative book from National Geographic titled Marvels of Engineering. Among the marvels covered are bridges. All built over water, none built over dry land, waiting for incoming water.

One of the marvels of bridge engineering is the Ganter Bridge in Switzerland. This bridge crosses the Ganther River in the Ganter Valley. Construction began in 1976.  Construction ended in 1980.

Four years to build the Ganter Bridge over water and a valley.

Above is a screencap from the Wikipedia article about the Ganter Bridge. The designer of this bridge took the cable stayed concept and combined it with the cantilever bridge concept to create a hybrid bridge the bridge building world had not seen before.

The Ganter Bridge has won world wide acclaim for its engineering and its aesthetics.

I don't know if the Swiss, or the people who live in the Ganter Valley town of Valais, refer to the Ganter Bridge as being a signature, iconic bridge. I suspect not. The Swiss are a sophisticated people who are content to let others sing their praises when praises are due.

I think until I get an explanation as to why the Boondoggle's Three Bridges Over Nothing are scheduled to take four years to build I will have myself an ongoing theme of Engineering Marvels which took around four years to build....