Kelley Bridge/ Broer som Binder

A swing bridge is a movable bridge. In its closed position this one (the Kelley Bridge, named after the owner of a nearby farm) was built in 1911 to carry road vehicles over the East Holland River. Turned 90 degrees horizontally, the bridge would open like a gate to let water vessels through, part of a proposed canal system to link Lake Ontario to the south with Lake Simcoe to the north.

This swing bridge -- built to be cranked by hand -- was designed to pivot at one end on a turntable. As you can see, some of the original gearing has been preserved.

But this bridge never operated as a swing bridge. Because of cost overruns, the canal project was cancelled in 1912.

However, the Kelley Bridge did function as an ordinary bridge until 2002, connecting two ends a gravel road.

For more posts about various kinds of bridges, click HERE.