A Dutch port city will dismantle a historic bridge to allow room for Jeff Bezos’ superyacht to pass through this summer and locals aren’t happy.
The Dutch port city of Rotterdam said it will temporarily break down the historic Koningshavenbrug Bridge because Bezos’ 417 ft long yacht won’t fit, Agence France-Presse reported.
Bezos’ 485 million, superyacht is being built by the Oceano shipyard in Alblasserdam, Netherlands and will pass through the port city. To make room for the yacht, the middle section of the huge steel bridge will be removed, Dutch News reported. Bezos will pay for the deconstruction of the bridge, according to the outlet.
The city’s mayor’s office told AFP that dismantling the bridge has created several jobs for the community and the bridge will quickly be rebuilt to its original form afterward.
“It’s the only route to the sea,” a mayoral spokesman told AFP.
The Koningshavenbrug bridge was built in 1878 and was reconstructed after being bombed by the Nazis in 1940 during World War II.
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In 2017, after a major renovation to the bridge, the local council promised it would never dismantle the bridge again. The announcement the bridge will be taken apart once more, has angered residents, the BBC reported.
“Jobs are important, but there are limits with what you can and should do with our industrial heritage,” said Ton Wesselink, local historian, told Dutch News.
The mayor’s office argued the dismantling will be economically beneficial for the city and the bridge will be rebuilt to its original form.
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