Hi,
I have been crossing Bnot Ya’akov bridge dozens of times, even on the times it was two separate Bailey bridges. Now there is a new two way steel bridge (built on 2007) to cross the Jordan in this point, standing where on of the Billy bridges used to stand.
I always thought the old Bnot Ya’akov bridge shown on the old pictures of Israel was standing in the same point, but Yoav Avneyon found out the remains of the old bridge couple of hundred meters North of the new bridge.
We had a discussion not long ago, which is the oldest bridge in Israel. This bridge, if it wouldn’t have been ruined was probably the oldest. Since 1273, almost 750 years! Other Mamluk bridges that still standing are Yibne bridge and Lod bridge. and are of the same type.
The old closed Baily bridge is a great stopping point on the way to Golan Heights, as this is one of the main ways to cross the Jordan river and stop on it. The Bailey bridges (portable truss bridges) were set after Six day war. It replaced the British bridge which was blown up by the Palmach, the elite forces of the paramilitary organization Haganah, at the “Night of the bridges” in June of 1946. The British bridge replaced the old Mamluk bridge that. The old Mamluk bridge was blown up by the retreating Ottoman forces in WWII and we rehabilitate by Australian forces.
The name, if you have wondered, comes from the tradition that Jacob’s daughters crossed the Jordan river at this point on their way to Israel. Other version relates the bridge to the monastery for women in Safed called “Jacob Monastery”, where bridge crossing fees were part of its income.
You can find more information of the fights on the bridge, as well as pics can be found on Naamoush (Blog in Hebrew on Six Day War).
Take Care
Gad
The bridge on 1912 (Source: Wikimedia)
Bnot Ya’akov Mamluk bridge rehabilitation on 1918 (Source: Australia war memorial)
The bridge after rehabilitation on 1918 (Source: Wikimedia)
The new British bridge, blown up on 1946, and replaced by the two Bailey bridges
The Bailey bridge that was left on the site
On the bridge looking West (open) and East (cloesd with concrete blocks)
The bridge supporting point
The bridge wood deck over the steel beams
Looking on Jordan river from above it
Sitting on the Jordan river below the bridge
The two way steel bridge built on 2007
The remains of the Mamluk bridge (Source: Yoaview.com)
The remains of thd Mamluk bridge and a look to the west side of the Jordan river
loading map - please wait...