The Golden Gate Bridge was once called "the bridge that couldn't be built.” Today it is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. This is perhaps San Francisco's most famous landmark and was opened in “1937 after a four-year struggle against relentless winds, fog, rock and treacherous tides.” It cost $35 million in principal and $39 million in interest and 11 workers’ lives to build the Golden Gate Bridge. Pedestrians including wheelchair users and bicyclists can go on the sidewalks of the bridge during daylight hours. “The single-suspension span is anchored by twin towers that reach skyward 746 feet, and was once taller than any building in San Francisco. To support the suspended roadway, two cables, each more than 7,000 feet in length and both containing 80,000 miles of wire stretch over the top of the towers and are rooted in concrete anchorages on shore.” I took more than 10 years to plan the bridge due to opposition but only four years to actually construct it. (http://www.sftravel.com/golden-gate-bridge)
Tower Bridge, not to be confused with the Tower of London, or London Bridge, is a combined bascule and suspension bridge. It was built between 1886 and 1894. The bridge crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London. “The bridge consists of two bridge towers tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal tension forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical components of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge) Over 50 designs were submitted for consideration before one was finally agreed upon.
From 1977 to the 2010s, the bridge was painted red, white and blue because of Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. After restoration work it was restored to blue and white. Tower Bridge is open 363 days of the year and you can walk across the river on the high-level walkways which is 42 metres above the River Thames. There is an entry fee.
“The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge", Italian pronunciation: [ˈponte ˈvɛkkjo]) is a medieval stone closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for still having shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers ... The bridge spans the Arno at its narrowest point where it is believed that a bridge was first built in Roman times, when the via Cassia crossed the river at this point. The Roman piers were of stone, the superstructure of wood. The bridge first appears in a document of 996. After being destroyed by a flood in 1117 it was reconstructed in stone but swept away again in 1333 save two of its central piers, as noted by Giovanni Villani in his Nuova Cronica. It was rebuilt in 1345. Giorgio Vasari recorded the traditional view of his day that attributed its design to Taddeo Gaddi — besides Giotto one of the few artistic names of the trecento still recalled two hundred years later. Modern historians present Neri di Fioravanti as a possible candidate.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio)
The Burwood Link Bridge was opened in August 2017 after 14 years of hard work, planning and design. Each week, 43,000 crossings are made across Gardiners Creek by Deakin University students, staff and other users. There were many safety concerns for users of the old creek crossing. This new tree top pedestrian bridge connects the Elgar Road and Burwood Road Deakin University campuses and provides safe crossing for those with mobility and visual issues and challenges as well as reducing the environmental impact on the parkland.
This bridge design supersedes a previously submitted design. This final design is far superior in many ways to the previous one. It is environmentally sensitive, aesthetically pleasing, functional and strong. The previous design would have necessitated the removal of 85 trees while the current one only saw the removal of 19 trees. The height of truss and balustrade is only 3.8 m compared to the previous design of 9.3 m. Approximately 150 tonnes of steel were used in this bridge while the previous design would have used up 300 tonnes. This bridge has only 1 pylon in the creek reserve rather than 4. (file:///C:/Users/maria_000/Downloads/Burwood-Link-QAs-20-January-2016.pdf)
It is constructed from mostly concrete, steel and glass. It was constructed off site and brought in to be assembled and installed. It took 4 years to construct and has a span of 245 m. It was built on time and on budget. Maintenance will be undertaken by Deakin University. The bridge is open to all to use.
Now about this cache, it is a small palm sized container and is very close to the walking track (as well as the Burwood Link Bridge!). It is not in a difficult spot to find and no trampling of vegetation is required. While it is practically a park and grab, or a ‘sit and grab’. Great stealth will be required due to the number of users of this section of Gardiners Creek Trail.
There is half hour parking in Fletcher Parade and other side streets Monday to Saturday from 7:30 am until 9 pm. 2 hour parking can be found on Station Street where it meets the creek near the Bennettswood Bowling Club.
After you have signed the logbook/scroll, please make sure to return the cache back to its secure spot away from natural hunters who frequent the area.
If you have a spare half hour or so, why not come in your walking shoes and make the most of this beautiful nature reserve. There are water fountains at the BBQ sheds on the other side of the creek.
References:
http://www.sftravel.com/golden-gate-bridge
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g186338-d187552-Reviews-Tower_Bridge-London_England.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_Vecchio
http://www.deakin.edu.au/locations/melbourne-burwood-campus/building-projects/burwood-link
https://www.deakin.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/627034/burwood-link-fact-sheet-pamphlet.pdf