# Greece's Submersible Bridges: A Silly Engineering Marvel

> Greece's submersible bridges, designed to let ships pass while allowing cars, are a quirky solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
- Title: Greece's Submersible Bridges: A Silly Engineering Marvel
- Summary: Greece's submersible bridges, designed to let ships pass while allowing cars, are a quirky solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Greece's submersible…
- Keywords: corinth canal, submersible bridge, greece, peloponnese, isthmus of corinth, hydraulic lifts, maritime traffic, cars, culture, Greece's, Submersible, Bridges
- Source: Jalopnik — https://jalopnik.com/2286780/greece-corinth-canal-submersible-bridge
- Author: Andy Kalmowitz
- Published: 2026-10-14T18:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: corinth canal, submersible bridge, greece, peloponnese, isthmus of corinth, hydraulic lifts, maritime traffic, cars, culture
## Greece's submersible bridges
Greece's submersible bridges connect the Peloponnese with mainland Greece through the Isthmus of Corinth.
## Submersible bridge design
Each bridge has two hydraulic lifts that raise and lower a 108.3-foot wooden roadway with a footpath.
## Submersible bridge drawbacks
The footpath becomes slippery after submerging, but the bridge is sturdy with a maximum load of 7,119 pounds per square foot.
## Submersible bridge speed
The bridge moves at 13 feet per minute, taking three and a half minutes to submerge or refloat.
## Submersible bridge crowd
Onlookers gather to watch the bridge move, with restaurants nearby offering outdoor seating for spectators.
## Why submersible bridges exist
The bridges were built in 1985 to allow ships to pass without obstructing maritime traffic.
## Key takeaway

Greece's submersible bridges, which submerge to let ships pass, are a unique but unnecessary engineering feat.