Maslenica Bridge
Maslenica is a cove at the entrance to Novigradsko zdrijelo (Novigrad strait) which connects the sea of Novigrad to the Velebit channel. This was where the magnificent Maslenica bridge once was, as well as the "Plitvice" motel destroyed on the 22nd November 1991 by the Serbian chetnik forces in an attempt to gain part of Croatian territory. A pontoon bridge was set here in 1992, some 1500 meters south from the location where the construction of the new four lane bridge for the future Zagreb-Zadar highway had began. The building of this new bridge continued in 1996. It was opened for traffic in 1997.
This new bridge stretching across the Maslenica bay has a number of features which make it rather special, even in the world proportions. This arched bridge with a four lane highway running across one of the arches has the arch span of 200 meters which ranks it in the 10lh place in the world. The overall length of the bridge is 377,60 meters. It has 12 ranges with a construction of 350 meters and a width of 20.40 meters. It has a 1 meter wide pedestrian lane on each side and the rest falls on the separation belt with barrier for vehicles and pedestrians.
Two different climates clash in this area, the Mediterranean and the continental, producing the devastating effect of the "Velebit-ska bura". This powerful hurricane wind is the reason why this bridge has been equipped with a special system of electronic sensors which make it possible to monitor the behavior of the bridge elements by telecommunications from Zagreb on a daily basis. The settlement of Maslenica, which once had 300 souls, is wiped from the face of the Earth by the Serb chetnik army.
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