Bridge to nowhere

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A highway bridge near Castrop-Rauxel, Germany - built in 1978 but not connected on either end Soda Frohlinde.jpg
A highway bridge near Castrop-Rauxel, Germany – built in 1978 but not connected on either end
An overpass to nowhere in Summit, New Jersey: Brantwood Terrace Overpass, walled off on both ends Overpass to nowhere in Summit, New Jersey.jpg
An overpass to nowhere in Summit, New Jersey: Brantwood Terrace Overpass, walled off on both ends
A former railway bridge over the Vaci ut in Ujpest, Budapest, Hungary - with its rail line defunct in the early 1990s, the cityside approach of the bridge was demolished to create space for construction. Overpass bridge, Vizafogo railway.jpg
A former railway bridge over the Váci út in Újpest, Budapest, Hungary – with its rail line defunct in the early 1990s, the cityside approach of the bridge was demolished to create space for construction.

A bridge to nowhere is a bridge where one or both ends are broken, incomplete, or unconnected to any roads. If it is an overpass or an interchange, the term overpass to nowhere or interchange to nowhere may be used respectively. [2] [3]

Contents

Origins

There are five main origins for these bridges:

Metaphoric use

The term "bridge to nowhere" may be used by political opponents to describe a bridge (or proposed bridge) that serves low-population areas at high cost, usually characterizing it as an instance of pork barrel spending. [4]

By extension, it may refer to any undertaking perceived as both pointless and costly.

Incomplete and damaged bridges

Argentina

Belgium


Bulgaria

Canada

China

Czech Republic

France

Pont Saint-Benezet in Avignon, France St Benezet bridge - Avignon, France - panoramio.jpg
Pont Saint-Bénézet in Avignon, France

Germany

Soda-Brucke Euskirchen Soda Bruecke bei Euskirchen.jpg
Soda-Brücke Euskirchen

The colloquial name for a bridge to nowhere in Germany is "Soda-Brücke" (a pun on "so da" = "just there"). Many of the bridges were built in the 1970s as part of the Autobahn network, but the oil crisis and rising environmental consciousness slowed many highway extensions.

Honduras

Hong Kong

Hungary

India

Indonesia

Italy

Latvia

Nepal

New Zealand

Norway

Philippines

Poland

near Lisowo, demolished 2019 Lisowo. The viaduct of the old highway. It was built during World War II. The German Nazis never finished it (3).jpg
near Lisowo, demolished 2019

Romania

Russia

The bridge of Vachevskaya Street in Pavlovsky Posad Pavlovsky Posad Parizh bridge 06.JPG
The bridge of Vachevskaya Street in Pavlovsky Posad
The bridge in Porozovo Avtomobil'nyi puteprovod nad planirovavshimsia zheleznodorozhnym kar'erom 2.jpg
The bridge in Porozovo

Slovakia

Spain

Taiwan

United Kingdom

The former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway bridge at Blandford Forum. Following closure of the line, the span over the river (right) was demolished, and the earth embankment on the left was reused for nearby flood defence work, leaving it as a "bridge to nowhere". Old railway bridge at Blandford Forum.jpg
The former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway bridge at Blandford Forum. Following closure of the line, the span over the river (right) was demolished, and the earth embankment on the left was reused for nearby flood defence work, leaving it as a "bridge to nowhere".

United States

Fort Duquesne Bridge in 1966 before the ramps were completed Pittsburgh - "Bridge to Nowhere".jpg
Fort Duquesne Bridge in 1966 before the ramps were completed

Bridges to unpopulated or low-population areas

Australia

Canada

Ireland

Harry Blaney Bridge, Ireland Harry Blaney Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 1322470.jpg
Harry Blaney Bridge, Ireland

Malaysia

Malta

The St. Elmo Bridge in Valletta, Malta has been called a bridge to nowhere since it only leads to a breakwater and a small lighthouse Malta - Valletta - Triq il-Lanca - St. Elmo Bridge+Valletta Breakwater+Lighthouse 02 ies.jpg
The St. Elmo Bridge in Valletta, Malta has been called a bridge to nowhere since it only leads to a breakwater and a small lighthouse

Russia

United States

Obsolete bridges and approaches

Canada

United Arab Emirates

United States

Bridges originally criticized as "a bridge to nowhere"

See also

Related Research Articles

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