The banks of the canal, over which the bridge is thrown, are at different heights. In order to obtain the slope of the bridge bed required by the standards - such that it was convenient for cyclists and people in wheelchairs to ride on it - its length had to exceed 100 m. Since the canal is relatively narrow, the bridge received a plan in the shape of the letter Z, and its the middle, diagonal part is adjustable.
But the architects gave pedestrians the opportunity to cross the canal in a straight line. For them, the second part of the Melkwegbrugge was built: a steel arch with a height of more than 12 m, from the top of which there are views of the historic center of Purmerend and the new district of Veydevenne, located on different sides of the canal. The arch weighs 85 tons and consists of 130 steps.
At night, the Melkwegbrug is illuminated with LEDs.
N. F.
