It involved the radical transformation of originally agricultural land into a new residential and commercial development at the edge of a large artificial lake. Blauwestad is a project that was initiated to generate a new economic boost to East-Groningen, a shrinking region in the north of the Netherlands. The now better connected Blauwestad and Winschoten are both in the municipality of Oldambt. The bridge is not only used by children to go to school or by commuters, it is also used for different types of recreational and sports cycling. The longest single-purpose bike & pedestrian bridge in North-America is believed to be the 1,288 metres long Big Dam Bridge in North Little Rock USA, while the longest cycling bridge in the world may be the 7.6 km long Xiamen Bicycle Skyway in China. The impressive bridge dethroned the previously longest cycling bridge of Europe, Sölvesborgsbron which is a 756 metres long bridge in Sweden, officially opened in 2013.

Far right -invisible- the part over the lake. Visible here the part over the motorway and the nature reserve.

Left behind the trees the part over the canal. The bridge cost circa 6.5 million euros.īillet en français The Pieter Smitbrug. The bridge stretches over a canal, a motorway, a nature reserve and a man-made lake. It connects the town of Winschoten to Blauwestad, a developing residential area.

The mainly wooden bridge is 800 metres long, 3.5 metres wide and can be used for cycling and walking. A representative of the province of Groningen and the mayor of the municipality of Oldambt cut the ribbon together on 1 February 2021. All that in 10 years.The new longest cycling bridge of Europe was opened one and a half weeks ago. The Two Rivers Bridge and a western ramp to the Big Dam Bridge were built to connect the Arkansas River Trail with points west and making the 88-mile trail system a reality. The Clinton Library Bridge was redesigned to create an eastern connection for the Arkansas River Trail completing the main loop of the trail section (there is still work to be done on the Little Rock side of the trail). The Junction Railroad Bridge downtown was readapted to connect North Little Rock and Little Rock with an easy, safe walkway. Once the Big Dam Bridge was completed, central Arkansas got on a bike/pedestrian bridge kick. Photo courtesy of Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism That’s 104 weekend days a year (more with holidays) for 10 years. Yearly events held as fundraisers happen almost every weekend somewhere on the trail sometimes multiple events in a day. I really wish I could figure out how much money was given to various charities because of the bridge and the trail. It’s been a large part of my life for the past 10 years. Last night I had the honor to meet a friend in the middle of the bridge to go for a ride to celebrate his birthday. I’ve even done a live interview with Craig O’Neill of Channel 11 from the bridge on its importance to the region for tourism, recreation, and health. I’ve been on the bridge at all times of the day and night. I took engagement photos for my eldest daughter on the bridge. I’ve crossed in bike races, rides, adventure races and runs. Our family rang in the new year once atop the bridge, celebrating with a thermos of hot chocolate, it was a cold night. Since that day I’ve made the trip hundreds of times. Eventually, we crossed one more time to get back to our car once the festivities were done. Then we ran across and back again (bringing my crossings up to 5). I had to ride back to our car to get some running shoes (that was 3 times across). We crossed once and then decided to join the 5K run that would then go back across.

Speeches were made on both sides of the river. We wore our yellow Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas t-shirts. Ten years ago, Lisa and I were lucky enough to be in the group of first official riders across the bridge. Whenever someone says that we can never do “whatever” I point at the bridge and remind them that if we can build that, we can do anything. Every time I see the bridge I’m reminded that we can do anything if we set our minds and backs to it. Luckily, local officials and advocates led by then Pulaski County Judge, Buddy Villines, then Little Rock Mayor, Jim Dailey, and then North Little Rock Mayor, Pat Hays continued to push for the dream, a bicycle/pedestrian bridge, one of the longest in the world would be built atop the Murray Lock & Dam, managed by the U.S. It is easy to think of this project being cancelled, no one would have been surprised. tours ended, the country was hunkering down, protecting itself from another attack. It was a time when most federal facilities were made off limits to the public. Imagine thinking that 5 years after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, a public space would open up on top of a federally managed dam.

Big dam bridge 2021