Erasmus Bridge
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The Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug) is a cable stayed bridge located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The bridge links the northern and southern halves of Rotterdam in spectacular style. It was designed by Ben Van Berkel and Freek Loos with UN Studio.
Traffic passes underneath the 456 foot pylon as it arches over the roadway. The structure is called "the Swan" by locals due to its graceful posture over the water. The bridge takes it official name from Desiderius Erasmus the medieval scholar and humanist who came from Rotterdam. The Erasmus Bridge is such a dramatic departure of traditional bridge building that it has even become part of the city's official logo.
The bridge was officially opened by Queen Beatrix on September 6, 1996, having cost €165m to construct. Shortly after the official opening a problem was discovered concerning the web of the cables. The cables vibrated during high wind and rain, the problem was subsequently corrected with stronger shock dampeners.
The Southern span of the bridge is a bascule bridge that has the largest panel of its type in the world.
In 2005 several planes flew underneath the bridge as part of the "Red Bull Air Race"
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