road bridge links island city african mainland metal bridge metres long metres wide weighing tonnes long tons short tons spans longest metres 19th century access island boats introduction ferry transport passengers quickly saw system clearly overrun decided construct bridge governor decided loan worth million gold construct new metallic bridge construction company selected decided construct new metallic bridge section capable turning degrees allow passage ships bridge opened july 2000s million rehabilitation plan inaugurated bridge city capital situated island near estuary separated atlantic_ocean thin kilometres strip sand called starts extends way suburbs situated area 19th century access island boat troops horses equipment french colonial army transported small boats governor inaugurated boat capable transporting passengers animals kinds goods boat crosses day differed person horse cow carriage year obvious system overrun second boat introduced success seeing frigate captain robin friend asked minister algeria approval construction floating bridge opened july bridge total length metres floating bridge length metres feet width metres floating formed metal supported wooden deck specially designed created metres gap large vessels pass bridge named decree napoleon iii france opening saint louis railway increased traffic bridge railway reached way goods hauled coast railway station cross bridge prevent breakdown bridge special decree given maximum weight vehicle crosses bridge half tonnes difficulties bridge remained service years dismantled construction new bridge opening speech governor proposed country loan infrastructure development council agreed loan worth million gold money construction metallic bridge loan approved november french president french bank agreed loan low interest percent auction organised sent officers evaluation examining offers selected owned technical committee paris agreed project best site hand president public works supported end contract awarded price million gold link king carol bridge myths construction bridge present today depicted tourist guides construction bridge attributed general says metallic parts bridge represents gift french government parts originally designed king carol bridge romania sources metallic parts intended bridge austria hungary vienna finally myth beams bridge says parts intended unspecified site vessel transporting mysteriously sunk authorities took advantage situation built local bridge information available romania king carol bridge results scientists france myths pure fiction romanian government finalised construction contract company foreign company making decision build bridge local companies entirely fulfilling design supervisor site conditions knowing contract approved unlikely foreign company build superstructure bridge hand austria hungary need construct low bridge like trade routes construction metallic bridge new bridge metal deck formed bridge total spans span metres spans metres spans metres total length bridge metres width metres total weight deck tonnes long tons short tons second span city mobile capable turning degrees let small ships cross opening opening bridge took place day ceremonies national day july presence governor ribbon access zone cut governor wife officials walked short distance mobile deck opened allow passage military ship ardent cannon shots fired dusk dawn commemorate construction bridge day organised ceremonies including horse races races second opening october presence prime minister french colonies rehabilitation works years opened bridge suffered need urgent repair rehabilitation works financed government total cost works estimated million million million government spans bridge replaced november july total work expected finish mid august inaugurated october
Faidherbe Bridge