Old Bridge (Norrilund)

The Old Bridge is the oldest of the many bridges crossing the Saron River in the city of Norrilund. The bridge, which has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times during its more than 1000 year history, was long known as "Norrilund Bridge". With the construction of several other bridges, it became known as the "Old Bridge".
The bridge consists of a center drawbridge spanning 250 feet, and 16 narrow stone arches - eight to the east of the drawbridge, and eight to the west. It is the only bridge in Norrilund to have houses and business built directly on top of it. The houses and shops jut awkwardly into the street and draw crowds, and when carts break down or animals misbehave, crossing the bridge can take up to an hour. For this reason, people on foot often choose to use the dozens of river taxi boats to quickly ferry from shore to shore. Some of these buildings project out over the river as well, and the precariously balanced upper floors have fallen off into the river in the past. Many of the top floors of the houses and shops are built over the street and actually connect to the house or shop across the street, giving the street a tunnel look. The gates to the Old Bridge are closed at curfew, and the bridge is regarded as a safe place to live or shop. The central drawbridge has no houses or shops built upon it, allowing people to get out of the traffic and enjoy a glimpse of the river and the shorelines of Norrilund.
The narrowness of the bridge's arches cause it to act as a partial barrage over the Saron, restricting water flow and thereby making the river more susceptible to freezing over in winter because of the slower currents. The current is further obstructed by the addition of waterwheels under the many of the arches to drive water pumps, power grain mills, and rotate turbines. This produces ferocious rapids between the piers of the bridge, as the difference between the water levels on each side can be as much as six feet. Only the brave or foolhardy attempted to "shoot the bridge" - steer a boat between the starlings - and many are drowned trying to do so.
Many of the 16 starlings which support the bridge's arches feature piers or moorings for river vessels, as well as waterside buildings of their own. Stairways and ladders lead up the arches to the shops and houses on the main bridge deck.
The drawbridge is a hydraulically-operated bascule which uses steam power from coal-burning boilers to pump river water into six hydraulic accumulators so that power is readily available when required. The hydraulic accumulators power the bascule engines, which raise and lower the bascules. The bridge makes a horrendous racket when the bascule engines are working, and most of the bridge's residents use earplugs.
Category:Locations in Norrilund
Category:Bridges