Gibraltar Bridge - The Gibraltar Bridge

The Gibraltar Bridge, is one of three projects that have been considered for the Strait of Gibraltar (Bridge), the others being the Gibraltar Tunnel and the Gibraltar Dam.

The Rock of Gibraltar Bridge is a conceptual structure spanning the Strait of Gibraltar that would connect Europe to Africa.

The futurist and author Arthur C. Clarke (1917 - 2008) proposed a Gibraltar bridge across the Strait in his 1979 science fiction novel 'The Fountains of Paradise' and several construction engineers have advanced designs for a Strait of Gibraltar Bridge on various alignments between Gibraltar and Morocco with many differing structural configurations.

The Gibraltar Bridge is the subject of a Discovery Channel documentary 'Engineering the Impossible' - Part 1. A 60 minute programme which hypothesised about extraordinary projects, including construction of a Europe-to-Africa Bridge as well as a tunnel project across the Strait of Gibraltar. The programme used high-end graphics and technology to offer a glimpse into advances that will realize these engineering dreams.

One proposal for Gibraltar Bridge between Point Oliveros and Point Cires had been tabled by Professor T.Y. Lin, world renowned structural engineer, before he died in 2003 at age 91. Hi design features a leviathan of a structure around 14 Km in length, with deep piers and 5000m spans, far exceeding the world's longest current bridge span.

Another United States architect, Dr Eugene Tsui, a non-traditional architect whose design inspiration comes from nature and all the brilliant systems and methods found therein. Dr. Tsui has even developed city designs inspired by termites! The Dr. produced a revolutionary design which does not resemble any existing bridge anywhere and features an original floating and submerging concept, including the creation of a three mile wide floating island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

Recent talk has been of a Gibraltar to Morocco road bridge, spanning the Strait of Gibraltar, has centred on a slightly different type of suspension bridge.

Although termed the "Gibraltar Bridge", it would probably be unrealistic for such a tunnel or bridge to actually terminate in Gibraltar as the territory lacks the space, on the surface, to develop the road and rail network infrastructure to service such a venture.

Whilst a Gibraltar Bridge between Europe and Africa could facilitate greater trade, many politicians in the EU have questioned its adverse effects on illegal immigration and people smuggling.