The scene was truly impressive. Instead of building a bridge for cars to cross the river, people did the opposite.
The Gouwe aqueduct bridge near the city of Gouda (Netherlands) crosses the A12 highway. It carries the Gouwe River across the highway, with barges and sailboats floating on the water. And occasionally a giant yacht will cross the highway, creating a one-of-a-kind spectacle for drivers on the road below it.
Photo: internet
In 1938, a bridge was built on the site of the present Gouwe Bridge, enabling the new four-lane A12 Motorway to complete the route between Moordrecht and Gouda. When opened, the bridge can allow boats to pass through. However, by the mid-1960s, traffic had increased significantly and each opening of the bridge caused huge traffic jams.
Photo: internet
Plans are already in place to expand the number of vehicles the A12 can accommodate, but that would also require a new way of crossing the Gouwe. If the highway were to be widened, it would become too big for the bridge to take in, so it was decided that the river should go over the highway, instead of the other way around.
The project began in 1975 and the Gouwe aqueduct was opened to traffic on 6 October 1981. It quickly became one of the busiest aqueducts in the Netherlands.
Photo: internet
The entire structure spans about 700 meters, with about 70 meters crossing the said highway. At about 155 feet (47.35 meters) wide, the aqueduct can accommodate ships of surprisingly large sizes.
The image above shows the passage of the 333-foot (102-meter) yacht Symphony as it made its way from Kaag to Rotterdam. For those driving on the eight-lane highway below the waterway, seeing a superyacht slowly pass overhead was a surreal sight.
