Schwanentorbrücke

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Schwanentorbrücke is a vertical-lift bridge in Duisburg, Germany, that crosses the Duisburg Inner Harbour. The bridge can be raised to let cargo ships pass and lowered so cars, trains and pedestrians can cross. It is named after the Schwanenturm, a watch tower that protected the city walls in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Before this bridge, there was a smaller bridge for pedestrians and traders. In 1844 a bridge with train tracks was built, and it was widened and improved from 1926 to 1929.

Schwanentorbrücke was designed by Hans-Siegfried Persch and completed in 1950. When Duisburg updated its trains, the bridge was updated too, with plans by Foster & Partners. As the transport industry moved out of the city, the bridge no longer needs to be raised as often.

A two-stage reconstruction began on April 9, 2018, planned to last about 18 months and cost around €4.5 million.

The bridge sits on four towers. Each tower contains a pulley system that lifts the bridge. Electric motors drive the lifting, helped by large counterweights. Glass lanterns on top of the towers shine green to tell ships they may pass underneath. One tower has the control room.