Kotlarski Bridge, Cracow, Poland

Almost thirty years had elapsed since the last bridge over the Vistula river was constructed in Cracow. Then, in 2001 two more bridges, one of which is the Kotlarski Bridge, came into operation. The bridge is located within the newly designed Central Route which connects Cracow downtown with the southern districts. The first stage of the route construction covered the 820 m long Kotlarska section. The bridge structures are 257.74 m long and consist of two approach viaducts and the main bridge. The concept for building the Kotlarski bridge (together with four other bridges) originated at the beginning of the 20th century from the Great Cracow Regulation Plan (of the Vistula River). This ambitious bridge construction plan was not finalised due to the outbreak of World War 2. The Kotlarski Bridge project was revived in 1998 when a competition was held for an urban-architectural bridge conception. The bridge had to cross the river in one span. The winning design was described by the jury as "an original solution with unique features that has a chance to become the symbol of the local community and attraction of Cracow city". The structural design was carried out in close liaison between the structural designers and the architect. The contract was awarded in June 2000 and the bridge was brought into operation by the end of 2001.