Vanšu Bridge

Vanšu tilts
Coordinates56°57′04″N 24°05′43″E / 56.9511°N 24.0953°E / 56.9511; 24.0953
CrossesDaugava
LocaleRiga, Latvia
Other name(s)Until 1991 Gorky Bridge
Characteristics
Designcable-stayed bridge
MaterialSteel, concrete
Total length625 metres (2,051 ft)
Width28 metres (92 ft)
Height109 metres (358 ft)
Longest span312 metres (1,024 ft)
No. of spans2
History
Opened1981
Location

The Vanšu Bridge (Latvian: Vanšu tilts) in Riga is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Daugava river in Riga, the capital of Latvia. The word vanšu refers to the cables suspending its deck, comparing them to nautical rigging also known as shrouds in English; thus a direct translation of the name is Shroud Bridge.[1] 595 meters in length, it is one of five bridges crossing the Daugava in Riga and passes over Ķīpsala island. It was built during the Soviet period and opened to public use on 21 July 1981 as the Gorky Bridge (Latvian: Gorkija tilts) after Maxim Gorky street, today renamed Krišjānis Valdemārs street, which it extends across the river.

Vanšu Bridge in Riga by Oldypak lp photo
Vanšu Bridge in Riga

In the last decade there have been more than 10 instances of people attempting to climb the cables. The only one with lethal consequences was on June 7, 2012, when a man committed suicide by jumping down from the bridge's cables.[2] After the incident Riga City Council ordered for barbed wire entanglements to be installed on the cables.[3]

In 2013 a beach with a playground and volleyball field was opened next to the Vanšu bridge in Ķīpsala.[4]

An extensive renovation project for the bridge is scheduled to begin in 2023.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Riga getting two 'new' bridges". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. August 20, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014. Riga's other bridges already have "official" names. The Shroud Bridge (Vanšu tilts) was officially given its moniker in 1989
  2. ↑ "Tragedy: young man climbs the Vansu Bridge, then jumps". Baltic News Network. LETA. June 8, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ "The first set of barbed wire entanglements are installed on the cable-stayed bridge". Baltic News Network. July 26, 2012. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ "PHOTO: Kipsala now has a beach near the Cable Stayed Bridge". Baltic News Network. June 19, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  5. ↑ "'Critical state' Vanšu bridge could only see repairs in 2023". Latvijas sabiedriskais medijs. June 11, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2022.


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