Triftbrücke near Gadmen, canton Bern, Switzerland
Posted by: 
Arkhan
N 46° 41.650 E 008° 21.457
32T E 450884 N 5171379
The Triftbrücke (Trift Bridge)is a pedestrian-only suspension bridge spanning the Trift brook which evacuates the melting water of the Trift glacier. The Triftbrücke is one of the longest and highest such suspension bridges in the world.
Waymark Code: WMC5FJ
Location: Bern, Switzerland
Date Posted: 07/28/2011
Views: 12
Several years ago the tongue of the Trift Glacier reached until the Trift gorge. This enabled mountaineers, on their way to the Trift Hut (at 2520 m), to cross the gorge by way of the glacier. In 1996 it became clear that this way would soon be impassible as the glacier kept retreating. Above the gorge a lake formed, which had to be circumvented.
In 2004 it was decided to build a bridge. However, soon after its completion it became apparent that strong winds in the gorge created turbulence that dangerously rocked the bridge, causing damage to both walkway and suspension.
Although the bridge was originally intended to serve mountaineers, it turned into a tourist magnet. Especially after power company KWO had made their aerial lift (cable car) available to the general public, hikers who were less equipped for the terrain also found their way to the Triftbrücke. For them, both exposed bridge entrances posed a risk.
In 2008 the construction of a new bridge which could cope with the higher demands was planned. In Spring 2009 the new Trift Bridge arose in a slightly more northern and 30 metres higher position, after a building time of only six weeks. Visitors can now enter more easily and cross in more safety.
The old bridge was taken down and reconstructed in another location.
Technical details :
The suspension cables are held by 24 anchors which have been embedded 2,5 metres deep into the rock. Each of those has a tensile strength of 18 metric tons.
Length : 170 metres
Height : 100 metres
Steel : 7,500 kilograms
Total steel cables : 5,000 metres
Screws : 6,500
Wooden planks : 340 (larch)
Construction costs : about 350,000 Swiss Francs
Visit Instructions:
Walk across the bridge! That is why you came here, wasn't it?
Bring a camera so that you can take a photo of the bridge. Upload at least one photo that you took of the bridge, you or others can be in the photo.
Include any additional history that you may know or have learned about the bridge.
Last but not least, include any story you may have about finding the bridge or your journey across the bridge.