Most SNP

Most SNP[1] ("Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising"), commonly referred to as Most Slovenského národného povstania or the UFO Bridge, and named Nový most ("New Bridge") from 1993 to 2012, is a road bridge over the Danube in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is the world's longest bridge to have one pylon and one cable-stayed plane.

Most SNP
Most SNP as seen from Bratislava Castle
Coordinates48.1384°N 17.104581°E / 48.1384; 17.104581 (Nový Most)
CrossesDanube
LocaleBratislava
Official nameMost Slovenského národného povstania
Characteristics
Designasymmetric, double-decked cable stayed bridge
Total length430.8 metres (1,413 ft)
Width21.0 metres (68.9 ft)
Height84.60 metres (277.6 ft) (pylon)
Longest span303 metres (994 ft)
History
Construction start1967
Construction end1972
OpenedAugust 26, 1972
Location

Most SNP is an asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge with a main span length of 303 m (994 ft), a total length of 430.8 m (1,413 ft), a width of 21 m (69 ft), and a weight of 537 t (592 short tons). Its steel construction is suspended from steel cables, connected on the Petržalka side to two pillars. There are four lanes for motor traffic on the upper level and lanes for bicycles and pedestrians on the lower level.

History

Since its construction in 1972 the bridge was called Most SNP ("Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising"), although locally it was called New Bridge. In 1993, its name was changed by the Bratislava City Council to Nový Most ("New Bridge") to unify its official name with that actually used by the people, as it was the second bridge to be built over Danube river in the city. However, another three bridges have been constructed since its opening, and on 29 March 2012 members of the Bratislava City Council voted in favor of an initiative by the Mayor of Old Town Táňa Rosová (SDKÚ-DS) to change the bridge's name back to Most SNP, effective 29 August 2012, the day of 68th anniversary of Slovak National Uprising.[2]

The bridge was built between 1967 and 1972 under a project managed by A. Tesár, J. Lacko, and I. Slameň.[3] It officially opened on August 26, 1972, as the second bridge over the Danube in Bratislava. A significant section of the Old Town below Bratislava Castle, which included nearly all of the Jewish quarter, was demolished to create the roadway that led to it;[4] on the other hand, the bridge improved access between Petržalka and the rest of the city. Parts of the historical city walls were unearthed during construction.

Restaurant and observation deck

A special attraction is the flying saucer-shaped structure atop the bridge's 84.6 m (278 ft) pylon, housing an observation deck and a restaurant, which since 2005 has been called UFO (previously, Bystrica). The restaurant serves both traditional Slovak and international cuisine, describing its cuisine as "Mediterasian".[5] It received the Restaurant of the Year award in 2011.[6]

Both the restaurant and the observation deck offer panoramic views of Bratislava. They are reached using lifts located in the east pillar, accessed from the walking and cycling paths on either side of the bridge. Access to the lifts normally costs €7.40 as of November 2017, but this fee is deducted from the bill for restaurant guests.

The west pillar of the bridge tower houses an emergency staircase with 430 stairs.

  • View of the pylon and "UFO"
  • Close-up of the bridge's pylon and the "flying saucer" from below
  • Bratislava Castle and St. Martin's Cathedral, as seen from Most SNP
  • A daytime view of the restaurant's interior
  • The interior of the restaurant at night
  • Panoramic view of the bridge at night

See also

References
  1. "Všeobecne záväzné nariadenie hlavného mesta Slovenskej republiky Bratislavy č. 4/2012 z 29. marca 2012 o zmene názvu Nového mosta na Most SNP v hlavnom meste Slovenskej republiky Bratislave". Archived from the original on 2013-11-03. Retrieved 2017-09-10.
  2. Tkáčiková, Lucia; Durdovanský, Michal (29 March 2012). "Bratislava will again have a 'SNP Bridge'". SME. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
  3. http://slovakia.travel/en/bratislava-ufo-classed-one-of-the-craziest-places
  4. http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/53370/8/the_changing_face_of_bratislava.html
  5. Savitie, Ilona: Suomalainen matkaopas: Slovakia, p. 64. ISBN 978-952-9715-63-3
  6. UFO fact sheet
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