New Bridge, Mitrovica

New Bridge
Mitrovica Bridge
Ibar Bridge
Coordinates Coordinates: 42°53′30″N 20°51′58″E / 42.89167°N 20.86611°E / 42.89167; 20.86611
Crosses Ibar
Locale Mitrovica
History
Engineering design by Freyssinet company
Opened June 2001

The New Bridge (also known as Mitrovica Bridge or Ibar River Bridge) is a steel truss bridge crossing the Ibar river in Mitrovica, in northern Kosovo[a].[1] The New Bridge has become an iconic symbol of Kosovo division,[2][3] as it separates around 80,000 Kosovo Albanians in the south from about half as many Serbs living in the north.[4] It is used as a military checkpoint and provides a de facto border between the northern Serbian enclaves and the rest of Kosovo.[5]

History

First snow on the main bridge in Mitrovica.

In 2001 the bridge was refurbished with French government money.[6] Structural operations such as the widening of the central pier, the reconstruction of the slab and pavements made of concrete and the replacement of the bearings and expansion joints were performed on the one hundred meter long bridge construction. Apart from these bridge repair actions the works also included the placement of additional architectural elements such as viewpoints on the bridge, the supply and placement of lighting, bank access steps and the construction of two decorative arches.[7] The Freyssinet company was awarded the contract to reconstruct the Mitrovica Bridge. The contract's terms stipulated that Freyssinet hire a multi-ethnic construction team to rebuild the bridge. In September 2000 the 61 workers from Kosovo were chosen - one Albanian for one Serb. The project manager was Pierre Lottici. The Department of Transport and Infrastructure - a division of the UNMIK Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS) - oversaw the bridge contract. At the end of June 2001, the new DM 3 million Mitrovica Bridge was handed over to the City of Mitrovica.[8]

The New Bridge is one of three bridges over the Ibar River in Mitrovica. The other two, one leading to the railway station, and the other being an abandoned railway bridge, are only lightly used. The New Bridge is the main crossing point between the two sides of the city.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitrovica Bridge.

Notes and references

Notes:

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has received recognition as an independent state from 110 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References:

  1. ↑ Kostovicova, Denisa (2003-07-15). "Crossing the Bridge". Balkan Reconstruction Report. Political Digest: CEEOL. 2003 (7.15): 1.
  2. ↑ "Associated Press". Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  3. ↑ "Associated Press". Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  4. ↑ Stojanovic, Dusan (2008-02-19). "USA Today". Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  5. ↑ Charter, David (2008-03-19). "The Times (UK)". London. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
  6. ↑ Gail Warrander, Verena Knaus, Kosovo, Bradt Travel Guides, 2011, p. 273.
  7. ↑ Kosovo - Bridge repair, Freyssinet magazine, No. 210, January / April 2001, p. 6, archived from the original on March 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ Eleanor Beardsley (2002). "Monument to a City's Future". Press/Information Office, United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). Archived from the original on 2013-03-18.
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