Description of the attraction
The Freedom Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Danube. It is located in the city of Novi Sad in northern Serbia. The bridge was erected in 1981, but did not last long: in April 1999, the structure took over an airstrike from NATO bombers.
For several years, the Freedom Bridge remained unrepaired. Its restoration began in 2003 and lasted for about two years. The cost of the restoration work was approximately 40 million euros, these funds were provided from the EU budget, and therefore the restoration of the bridge is sometimes called compensation for the destruction that was done in the late 90s.
The look that the Freedom Bridge acquired at the beginning of this century was created by the architect Nikola Haydin. The six-span structure of the bridge was made of steel. The length of the structure was 1.3 kilometers, the width is 27 meters, and the height was designed in such a way as not to impede the passage of ships along the Danube.
Both pedestrians (two pedestrian lanes are equipped for them) and cars can move along the bridge - four lanes are intended for them, on which the speed limit is valid - no more than 25 kilometers per hour. The Freedom Bridge offers a panoramic view of the river and the city, so it is considered a good place for photography.
In addition to the Freedom Bridge, in the city of Novi Sad, several more bridges with a similar fate have been thrown across the Danube - for example, the Zhezhelev Bridge, erected in 1961 and also destroyed during the bombing in April 1999. Its restoration cost 60 million euros. The Varandinsky bridge was built even earlier - in the 20s of the last century. It was first blown up in 1941 during the retreat of the Yugoslav troops, the second time - also in the spring of 1999. All of these structures were attacked as significant transport objects.
