Yes, this bridge sounds wild and the stuff of nightmares! (I have a recurring one in which I am driving old routes through Seattle that exist only in my dreams, and I am speeding in traffic on a high, curving on-ramp, which sometimes turns into an uphill so steep I am sure the car will tumble down backwards.) Your photos are dreamy, though. I now live in a city with 7 bridges, and I am constantly trying to capture the awe they create in me, even as I never feel entirely comfortable on them. A good writer friend has devoted much of her work to bridges--a metaphor for so many things--and she introduced me to the term "gephyrophobia" which is a fear of bridges and tunnels. Just reading your words made mine rear up.
Wow, gephyryophobia is a new one for me (the Greek scholar within is enjoying the etymology), and I'm sorry in advance for any appearance of your recurring nightmare in the coming days! I can understand that fear of bridges and tunnels - I strongly dislike being stopped on a suspension bridge when you can feel the car bouncing around. We put a lot of trust in the engineers and the ironworkers and the materials of yore and reading this book makes me realize that some of that trust is wishful thinking at best! And yet, apparently recent renovations to the Pulaski Skyway have cleared it for operation until way after my 100th birthday. Go figure! Thanks so much for your thoughtful and interesting comment, Rita!
So much of living is an act of trust, isn't it? My writer friend is married to a bridge engineer (they met while she was writing a series on the history of those 7 bridges--such a cool story!), and I've learned from her that bridges are given ratings periodically. At one time, one of our 7 had the lowest rating possible, and she advised me not to drive on it. It's since been replaced, but I've never been able to trust in quite the same way since, knowing that it was allowed to remain open even with that low rating. So glad your bridge looks to be safe for years to come!
What an amazing story of meeting - wow! Were the bridge ratings public knowledge or did your friend only find out about the rating of that bridge because her husband was privy to the data? I'd love to know how the Pulaski Skyway stacks up compared to other area bridges, but at the same time, ignorance might be bliss...
Oh for sure! Robert Moses is mentioned a few times in The Last Three Miles - sounds like similar controversy and corruption happening on both sides of the Hudson River... which doesn't surprise me for a second. Sounds like Power Broker is a good read - what do you think of the book?
Oh I hear you! Tom is not impressed with the state of our mostly crumbling infrastructure here in the US, though I think we should take a closer look at the bridges in Newcastle next time we go visit his parents in Northumberland!
Great follow up. That first photo is almost anxiety inducing. Like looking at the bridge through a veil of tears. Although I do not know the area personally, I loved the way The Sopranos was so dedicated to showing such a strong sense of place. It was as much a character of the story as any. One of the show's many redeeming features. I understand your father's hesitation. As a bank manager, my dad had dealings with the Montreal mafia, but wouldn't talk about it. I can't think of a person who would be further from that lifestyle. Sounds like your dad was a mirror image.
I commented on your first post about the Victoria Bridge. Scary bridges always bring it up in my mind. I passed over this bridge countless times in my life. I have been trying to find a video of two way traffic on the bridge to show you one of the most frightening bridge experiences I've ever known. The bridge connects St. Lambert where I grew up to downtown Montreal and was for many years the only way to get from the south shore, including upstate New York, into the city. It started as a railway bridge but had a lane added to each side to allow cars and trucks to pass over it. A metal bridge with metal grates for flooring, allowing you to see straight down to the water. The sound alone is enough to frighten most people. While usually, inbound traffic and outbound traffic were assigned one side of the bridge each, rush hour in the sixties saw the quieter of the two sides turned into two way traffic which when you see it today, seems quite impossible. You had to have the right stuff to make this crossing against oncoming traffic. The grated surface make your tires wobble back and forth so as you drive the vehicle vibrates and inch or two from side to side. The more you grip the steering wheel, the more pronounced the effect seems to be. Anyways, I couldn't find any videos of two way traffic, but here is a video of a typical crossing from St. Lambert into Montreal over one of the scariest bridges ever made. The loops at the beginning are navigating around the St. Lambert locks, the first locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway which allow ships to navigate up the river and through the Great Lakes. Few people have tried this crossing on a motorcycle. Those who have vow never to repeat the experience. Make sure you have the sound on.
Thank you for your comment John! Yes it does sound like our dads were cut from the same cloth there, the only difference is that my Dad did talk about it, and there were some crazy stories!
Tom and I watched the video of the Victoria Bridge crossing and I cannot imagine 2 way traffic on that roadway - an absolutely hair raising prospect, especially considering the visibility on all sides! I bet they had to use metal grating to keep the weight low to be able to add those roadways to the existing Victoria Bridge structure, and that comes with a price I guess! I'm remember a grated metal bridge from my youth in the tri-state area (that's NJ-NY-CT) but can't recall which one it was... I used to be fascinated looking down through the grates at the water below. I recognize that sound of driving over the grates very well and can remember the vibration - it's not for everyone and definitely not for a motorcycle!!
When a thing is called "Skyway" it has to be something you don't see often. I do like a challenging drive so I would definitely have a go. Is this a bridge people have to drive daily? What's the speed (limit)?
Hi Ronald, thanks for your comment! It slipped through the cracks over here - sorry for the late reply. I know, just calling it a "Skyway" makes it something out of Back to The Future as far as I'm concerned! So yes, the Pulaski Skyway is an elevated highway including 2 bridges along its full span and people indeed drive it daily - some people love it, some hate it. When there is an accident or a traffic jam it can apparently be a nightmare... but the speed limit (45 mph) is essentially unenforceable, there is nowhere for the police to pull anyone over, so you just kind of go for it! I'm itching to drive on it again, it was fantastic.
No worries, more and more comments slip through on my activity list here as well. It's hard to keep up :) Thanks for the information. Well over here they just put speed camera's to force speed limits - no need for the police to be on site ;) But yeah being stuck up on the bridge if there's an accident / traffic jam doesn't sound nice if you can't go anywhere (still might have the time to take a couple of nice photo's from up top ;).
I read about drivers being stuck up there for 4 hours somewhat recently - I think with a camera in hand, it could be incredible fodder for a photo essay.
And your'e right, speed camera could definitely do the job, but for some reason they aren't up there yet to my knowledge!
Yes, this bridge sounds wild and the stuff of nightmares! (I have a recurring one in which I am driving old routes through Seattle that exist only in my dreams, and I am speeding in traffic on a high, curving on-ramp, which sometimes turns into an uphill so steep I am sure the car will tumble down backwards.) Your photos are dreamy, though. I now live in a city with 7 bridges, and I am constantly trying to capture the awe they create in me, even as I never feel entirely comfortable on them. A good writer friend has devoted much of her work to bridges--a metaphor for so many things--and she introduced me to the term "gephyrophobia" which is a fear of bridges and tunnels. Just reading your words made mine rear up.
Wow, gephyryophobia is a new one for me (the Greek scholar within is enjoying the etymology), and I'm sorry in advance for any appearance of your recurring nightmare in the coming days! I can understand that fear of bridges and tunnels - I strongly dislike being stopped on a suspension bridge when you can feel the car bouncing around. We put a lot of trust in the engineers and the ironworkers and the materials of yore and reading this book makes me realize that some of that trust is wishful thinking at best! And yet, apparently recent renovations to the Pulaski Skyway have cleared it for operation until way after my 100th birthday. Go figure! Thanks so much for your thoughtful and interesting comment, Rita!
So much of living is an act of trust, isn't it? My writer friend is married to a bridge engineer (they met while she was writing a series on the history of those 7 bridges--such a cool story!), and I've learned from her that bridges are given ratings periodically. At one time, one of our 7 had the lowest rating possible, and she advised me not to drive on it. It's since been replaced, but I've never been able to trust in quite the same way since, knowing that it was allowed to remain open even with that low rating. So glad your bridge looks to be safe for years to come!
What an amazing story of meeting - wow! Were the bridge ratings public knowledge or did your friend only find out about the rating of that bridge because her husband was privy to the data? I'd love to know how the Pulaski Skyway stacks up compared to other area bridges, but at the same time, ignorance might be bliss...
I’m reading the Power Broker at the moment so I feel primed to know about the trouble with bridges haha
Oh for sure! Robert Moses is mentioned a few times in The Last Three Miles - sounds like similar controversy and corruption happening on both sides of the Hudson River... which doesn't surprise me for a second. Sounds like Power Broker is a good read - what do you think of the book?
It’s a long read but it gives some insight into the American system of the time. It’s worth the effort!
Great piece. I feel vertigo just reading it!
Thank you, Lizzie! It definitely boggles the mind that it was designed this way, and that you can still drive on it today...!
Not if you’re me!! Makes me glad I’m the other side of the pond!!
Oh I hear you! Tom is not impressed with the state of our mostly crumbling infrastructure here in the US, though I think we should take a closer look at the bridges in Newcastle next time we go visit his parents in Northumberland!
I think you are right – and in Italy there is plenty of crumbling structure around!!
Great follow up. That first photo is almost anxiety inducing. Like looking at the bridge through a veil of tears. Although I do not know the area personally, I loved the way The Sopranos was so dedicated to showing such a strong sense of place. It was as much a character of the story as any. One of the show's many redeeming features. I understand your father's hesitation. As a bank manager, my dad had dealings with the Montreal mafia, but wouldn't talk about it. I can't think of a person who would be further from that lifestyle. Sounds like your dad was a mirror image.
I commented on your first post about the Victoria Bridge. Scary bridges always bring it up in my mind. I passed over this bridge countless times in my life. I have been trying to find a video of two way traffic on the bridge to show you one of the most frightening bridge experiences I've ever known. The bridge connects St. Lambert where I grew up to downtown Montreal and was for many years the only way to get from the south shore, including upstate New York, into the city. It started as a railway bridge but had a lane added to each side to allow cars and trucks to pass over it. A metal bridge with metal grates for flooring, allowing you to see straight down to the water. The sound alone is enough to frighten most people. While usually, inbound traffic and outbound traffic were assigned one side of the bridge each, rush hour in the sixties saw the quieter of the two sides turned into two way traffic which when you see it today, seems quite impossible. You had to have the right stuff to make this crossing against oncoming traffic. The grated surface make your tires wobble back and forth so as you drive the vehicle vibrates and inch or two from side to side. The more you grip the steering wheel, the more pronounced the effect seems to be. Anyways, I couldn't find any videos of two way traffic, but here is a video of a typical crossing from St. Lambert into Montreal over one of the scariest bridges ever made. The loops at the beginning are navigating around the St. Lambert locks, the first locks in the St. Lawrence Seaway which allow ships to navigate up the river and through the Great Lakes. Few people have tried this crossing on a motorcycle. Those who have vow never to repeat the experience. Make sure you have the sound on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpp5XXBnZdQ
Thank you for your comment John! Yes it does sound like our dads were cut from the same cloth there, the only difference is that my Dad did talk about it, and there were some crazy stories!
Tom and I watched the video of the Victoria Bridge crossing and I cannot imagine 2 way traffic on that roadway - an absolutely hair raising prospect, especially considering the visibility on all sides! I bet they had to use metal grating to keep the weight low to be able to add those roadways to the existing Victoria Bridge structure, and that comes with a price I guess! I'm remember a grated metal bridge from my youth in the tri-state area (that's NJ-NY-CT) but can't recall which one it was... I used to be fascinated looking down through the grates at the water below. I recognize that sound of driving over the grates very well and can remember the vibration - it's not for everyone and definitely not for a motorcycle!!
When a thing is called "Skyway" it has to be something you don't see often. I do like a challenging drive so I would definitely have a go. Is this a bridge people have to drive daily? What's the speed (limit)?
Hi Ronald, thanks for your comment! It slipped through the cracks over here - sorry for the late reply. I know, just calling it a "Skyway" makes it something out of Back to The Future as far as I'm concerned! So yes, the Pulaski Skyway is an elevated highway including 2 bridges along its full span and people indeed drive it daily - some people love it, some hate it. When there is an accident or a traffic jam it can apparently be a nightmare... but the speed limit (45 mph) is essentially unenforceable, there is nowhere for the police to pull anyone over, so you just kind of go for it! I'm itching to drive on it again, it was fantastic.
No worries, more and more comments slip through on my activity list here as well. It's hard to keep up :) Thanks for the information. Well over here they just put speed camera's to force speed limits - no need for the police to be on site ;) But yeah being stuck up on the bridge if there's an accident / traffic jam doesn't sound nice if you can't go anywhere (still might have the time to take a couple of nice photo's from up top ;).
I read about drivers being stuck up there for 4 hours somewhat recently - I think with a camera in hand, it could be incredible fodder for a photo essay.
And your'e right, speed camera could definitely do the job, but for some reason they aren't up there yet to my knowledge!