
Ponte Rotto, Rome, Italy
Posted by:
sherpes
N 41° 53.358 E 012° 28.764
33T E 290881 N 4640557
Ancient bridge across the river Tiber, from Roman Empire times, only one arch is still standing
Waymark Code: WM5DN8
Location: Lazio, Italy
Date Posted: 12/23/2008
Views: 35
Commonly known as "Ponte Rotto" (trans: broken bridge), this bridge from Roman Empire times had many of its spans destroyed in a flood in the 16th century. Some extensions were erected with metal and wood planks, but eventually the bridge was abbandoned. Its demise was in a design flaw: the flow of the river in this turn differs depending on which point of the river the bridge pilon is located. The bridge had its pilons all parallel to each other, assuming that the flow of water was all coming from the same direction. The same design mistake was not repeated when the adjacent bridge Ponte Palatino was built in the early 20th century, as its pilons are NOT parallel to each other, but are oriented towards the flow of water WHERE the pilon is located. In December 2008, the river experienced its highest water levels since 1937, and in a single day, the river rose 6 meters.
Original name is pons Aemilius. In 1559, several arches collapsed in a flood, leaving only three arches standing. 1875, a metal suspension bridge was erected, which made the bridge transit able again. In 1915, the metal extension and two of the three arches were demolished as part of the flood walls construction.
Original Use: Pedestrian
 Date Built: 1/1/0200
 Construction: Stone
 Condition: Collapsed / Destroyed
 Date Abandoned: 1910
 Bridge Status - Orphaned or Adopted.: Orphaned
 See this website for more information: Not listed

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