Amazing bridges of the world

In an age where making connections is all the more important, amid a world where we are called to maintain social distance for our health, The Peak takes a look at architectural formations meant to connect – based on a Trainline analysis of the most visually arresting designs in transport hubs.

You might have walked these very bridges before while jetting across the world, but, with travel plans scuppered by the pandemic, now is as good a time as any to learn about their design history, so you have a better appreciation of the history and significance of these constructions.

(Related: Restaurant On a Bridge?)

Kintai Bridge (Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan)

Five wooden archways suspended on columns of stone make up this distinguished landmark. The bridge has been rebuilt and renovated several times due to severe weather conditions - it was built in 1673, was destroyed by a typhoon in 1950, then reconstructed in 1953. Renovation works, to the tune of two billion yen, were carried out in the early noughties. Unusually, visitors have to pay a fee, even to cross it on foot. The name is supposedly inspired by the traditional Japanese nishiki obi, a sash worn with kimonos, which the bridge is said to resemble.
Webb Bridge (Melbourne, Australia)

The Webb Bridge across the Yarra River is a dynamic piece of infrastructure. It comprises two sections: the 145m-long section of the former Webb Dock Rail Bridge that starts from the north, which is joined to a newer 80m-long connecting linkway in the south. Interestingly, the former Webb Dock Rail Bridge was initially a railway line that was made unusable when redevelopment in the area swallowed up parts of the track bed. The Webb Bridge has since been nominated for and won a number of architecture and design awards. Made from pigmented concrete and interlacing steel hoops, the structure is designed to represent a "knot" between the north and south of Melbourne's dockland area. The new, more modern section of the bridge has been integrated with the old section, fusing new and old styles.
Bonifacius Bridge (Bruges, Belgium)

The Bonifacius Bridge dates back only to 1910, though its architecture may fool tourists into thinking it dates back to mediaeval times. It's located in an enchanting spot, surrounded by the Arents Courtyard and Gruuthuse Palace. A quaint piece of folklore has it that the first person one sees on the other side of the bridge will be one's marriage partner.
Chengyang Bridge (Liuzhou, China)

The Chengyang Bridge is made up of five pavilions set atop three stone piers. It's also known as the Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge for it is essentially a covered linkway with corridors, benches and pavilions to allow people to gather while shielded from the elements. One of the most striking bridges in China, it is 64m long and stands 10m above the river. The bridge built in 1916 is largely made of wood – no nails or rivets were used in the construction, instead it relies on "dovetailing" and other local woodworking techniques. It was added to the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites in 1996.
Merchant Square Footbridge (Paddington Basin, London)

The spectacular moveable bridge is quite simply an amazing piece of design. A typical-looking 3m wide bridge on the surface, it has a cantilever mechanism that allows portions of the bridge to be raised from a pivot on one side, giving the appearance of a traditional Japanese fan when suspended.
Khaju Bridge (Isfahan, Iran)

The 17th century structure is not only a bridge, but also a dam for the Zayandehrud River, and a meeting space for locals. The 133m-long bridge was built at a time when Persian culture flourished; it's said to have been built on top of an older bridge around 1650. It is comprised of 23 arches, each decorated with intricate tiling. Original artwork dating back to the creation of the bridge over 350 years ago is still visible. Architecturally, the bridge was designed to facilitate a cool microclimate, which still works to this day.