Duluth Aerial Ferry Bridge built in 1905, re-engineered in 1930 to become the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge. This video demonstrates many different graphics, modeling, photo and video editing skills. This includes:
• Mechanical Drafting
• CAD Modeling
• Photorealistic Rendering
• CAD Animation
• Vintage Photo Repair
• Colorization of Black and White Photos
• Graphics Creation
• Professional Video Editing
• Drone Photography
• A.I. Text to Speech Conversion
The original bridge was considered a Transporter Bridge, the common European term used to describe this style. It consists of two towers, a steel girder framework and span, and a gondola cargo platform. A transporter bridge was less expensive than an adjustable height roadway, yet still allowed uninterrupted maritime traffic.
Between the years 1893 and 1915 only 30 Transporter Bridges were built in the entire world. 8 still operate today. Cargo limitations and the exploding use of automobiles made the popularity of such bridges short lived.
The Twin Ports, originally, was only a single port. Duluth shipping traffic had to travel up the east side of Superior to reach their destinations. The bay was shallow, foggy, and difficult to navigate, causing several groundings. This inspired businessmen to fund an essential project for the future of Duluth. In 1871 a canal was cut through the 7-mile-long Minnesota Point sandbar.
Duluth became the furthest inland port in the world, and the busiest port on the great lakes.
Out of concern the new canal may affect the flow of the St Louis River and damage the natural entry, the Army core of engineers required a dike be built between Rice’s Point and Minnesota Point. It quickly fell into disrepair and was eventually removed.
The new Duluth canal transformed the Minnesota Point peninsula into an island. Ferry services were introduced, but due to ice conditions relegated to a seasonal basis. A suspension footbridge of questionable safety was constructed as a temporary solution. Many bridge and tunnel designs were floated over the next two decades. Finally in 1891, the city accepted a lift bridge proposal by John Alexander Low Waddell. However, objections from the U.S. War Department shot the idea down. Waddell went on to build his bridge anyhow, in Chicago. The Halsted Street Bridge crossing over the Chicago River opened in 1894.
Inspired by European transporter bridges, city engineer Thomas F. McGilvray in partnership with Bridge engineer C.A.P. Turner had a new design approved in 1901. A transporter bridge with one unique difference from existing European designs. The gondola would be held by trusses rather than suspension cables. This design would both increase weight capacities and better handle Duluth winters.
The Duluth Canal Bridge Company was tasked with the build in 1902 but was not up to the task. Plagued with funding issues and obtaining the required steel, the contract lapsed in May 1903 with little more than foundations in place. The project remained idle until July 1904. Modern Steel Structural Company of Waukesha Wisconsin picked up the new contract and quickly resumed construction. The first gondola crossing took place on February 23, 1905. The new Duluth Aerial Ferry Bridge could transfer a gondola loaded to 65 tons, over the 390-foot span in just 75 seconds.
Due to the explosion of automobile traffic by the mid 1920’s it became obvious the transport gondola design was entirely inadequate. By 1927 there was a new proposal to re-engineer the bridge. The new design of John L. Harrington, a former partner of John Waddell who submitted the 1891 lift bridge design, was remarkably similar.
In March 1929 the Kansas City Bridge Company began construction of the re-engineered bridge. The deck was fabricated in the raised position, as to allow unobstructed shipping traffic. On July 1st, 1929, the gondola crossed for the last time. The new lift bridge opened on Jan 12, 1930. The 24-year lifespan of the Duluth Aerial Ferry Bridge had officially come to an end.
