Bridge over island... is it possible?

[Han Solo 34]

I want to build a bridge from one side of a river to the other. There's an island in the middle of the river and rather than have two separate but connected bridges, I'd like a single bridge that starts on one side of the river, goes over the island and then ends on the other side of the river (like the Queensboro bridge). Is there anyway of accomplishing this?

[MandelSoft 2,769]

Have you tried dragging the bridge all the way through?

[Han Solo 34]

Have you tried dragging the bridge all the way through?

When I do that, it'll either only build two separate bridges, no matter what height I set, or it will say the terrain is unsuitable. There are other parts of the river with the island that will let me build on continuous span but I want the bridge in a specific location. I can't really see why it'll work at one point up river but not another very similar spot down river.

I've got to go cook dinner now, so if my response is slow, that'll be why.

  Edited June 27, 2012 by Han Solo  

[Magneto 316]

This will work if you use a "strong" slope mod. Either Ennedi's smooth212 slope mod (all betworks) or bigredfish's slope mod (only for rail) will do the job. Make sure your 2 sides are at same level but your island at a lower level and drag through as mandelsoft said

[Blurque 9]

Have you tried deleting the island, building the bridge and then rebuild the island?

I can remember this is how I solved this once.

[Xyloxadoria 1,099]

Have you tried deleting the island, building the bridge and then rebuild the island?

I can remember this is how I solved this once.

A better way if the island is lower than the land where the bridge is being built is to use the water level cheat that comes with the extra cheats mod. Use it to raise the water so that its higer than the island. Then build your bridge. Then restart the game (or use the water level cheat again) and the water will go back to its original height, with the island above water again and the bridge over it.

[cogeo 960]

Not a bridges expert, but there are water bridges, land bridges (?) and both water and land. Can you check if the bridge you are trying to build is of the "both" type?

Not sure if making a single bridge is desirable either. Quite possibly that you will get a pylon on or close to the islet, and I think you can't even build anything under the bridge (not sure if you can even lay roads), so it will look, or functionally be divided in two.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Actually the two bridges solution is the best if you want to take off on to the island between the bridges. Nothing can be built under a bridge, not even a road. Just run the one, a bit of connecting road, then the other. Great opportunity to collect tolls at the island ends of the bridges.

[zimmie 521]

I have wanted to know if this is possible myself. I have have a map where I really wanted to be able to do this. I searched a little bit once, found this pic that lead me to believe it is possible. I'll have to try some of the suggestions.

[Han Solo 34]

Thanks everyone for the replies, you've all given me food for thought.

Have you tried deleting the island, building the bridge and then rebuild the island?

I can remember this is how I solved this once.

Doing this would destroy the bridge.

Actually the two bridges solution is the best if you want to take off on to the island between the bridges. Nothing can be built under a bridge, not even a road. Just run the one, a bit of connecting road, then the other. Great opportunity to collect tolls at the island ends of the bridges.

You're right, it would be the better option when thought about logically but I set out the recreate the Queensboro Bridge. Ideally I'd have a large bridge spanning across the island and a smaller second bridge connecting the island, which will be almost entirely park land, and the mainland. It'd be great to utilize the space south of the bridge... the small tip of the island that the large bridge passes over but the area is only small so it's no great loss if I ca't use it.

I have wanted to know if this is possible myself. I have have a map where I really wanted to be able to do this. I searched a little bit once, found this pic that lead me to believe it is possible. I'll have to try some of the suggestions.

The link was broken so here's another - http://blog-imgs-43.fc2.com/p/u/r/purplereader/20110120182106ec2.jpg This is very similar to the bridge I hope to build.

[Han Solo 34]

Have you tried deleting the island, building the bridge and then rebuild the island?

I can remember this is how I solved this once.

A better way if the island is lower than the land where the bridge is being built is to use the water level cheat that comes with the extra cheats mod. Use it to raise the water so that its higer than the island. Then build your bridge. Then restart the game (or use the water level cheat again) and the water will go back to its original height, with the island above water again and the bridge over it.

I have the extra cheats DLL and there's nothing about water in the list of cheats.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I have the extra cheats DLL and there's nothing about water in the list of cheats.

You can drop back into god mode by using CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+<click god mode icon> to get to full god mode. If you lower the land, it may cause an earthquake, but this will do the trick, then you can put it back. If your bridge is not destroyed by this, you have it made in the shade.

[Han Solo 34]

I have the extra cheats DLL and there's nothing about water in the list of cheats.

You can drop back into god mode by using CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+<click god mode icon> to get to full god mode. If you lower the land, it may cause an earthquake, but this will do the trick, then you can put it back. If your bridge is not destroyed by this, you have it made in the shade.

I've tried this method several times and with every attempt, the bridge is destroyed.

[CaptCity 4,666]

Was curious about this, so started playing around. Managed to get this...

I made sure the island was lower than the coasts where the bridge would be grounded. Then used the rain tool tool to, basically, flood the island - it took a lot of "rain" but finally got it. Saved and re-entered the city. The "setsealevel" cheat (needs to be typed; it's not in the cheat menu) may do the same thing, but I never could figure it out. For what it's worth...

[zimmie 521]

Excellent! Thanks CaptCity. I have one region with a seaport island that I wanted a bridge with through traffic from one side of the city to the other with seperate smaller bridges accessing the island. And also I just kind of wanted to do something similiar to that island in Montreal with the amusement park on the island with a big bridge spanning it just because I think it looks visually pleasing.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you manage to create the St. Helen's Island set up at Montreal, please post a screen shot. I gather the big bridge is not long for this world as it is wearing out.

[Han Solo 34]

I've found that if I use the bridge height mod, I can get an aesthetically pleasing result that, while not spanning clear across the island like the Queensboro Bridge does, is a satisfactory compromise. It avoids the huge mound of terrain by the bridge footings which is a plus. The one thing I'm concerned about though is the bridge being too low for ferry traffic. Having just got back into the game after years away, can someone apprise me of what effect this will have? Is the lack of ferry traffic a big deal?

  Edited July 2, 2012 by Han Solo  

[Yuu Caa Sim 55]

If you use the ferry networks (passenger & passenger+car ferry terminals), then the paths connecting terminals together won't pass through low bridges, dividing up the network.

While selecting a bridge, you should be able to raise the height of the bridge if the area surrounding the bridgeheads are empty. You could also terraform the areas where the bridge starts / ends beforehand to make them high enough

[Han Solo 34]

If you use the ferry networks (passenger & passenger+car ferry terminals), then the paths connecting terminals together won't pass through low bridges, dividing up the network.

While selecting a bridge, you should be able to raise the height of the bridge if the area surrounding the bridgeheads are empty. You could also terraform the areas where the bridge starts / ends beforehand to make them high enough

But are passenger ferries important?

As for terraforming, the issue is that if I build a bridge that has an on or off ramp on the small island in the middle of the river yet is still tall enough for ferry traffic to pass under, it creates a huge, ugly mound in the middle of the island. It looks ungainly and worst of all, artificial.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

You have to make the terrain do what you want. The whole game could be considered to be an artist's canvas. You could avoid the ramp-up nonsense by making your island high enough to avoid the problem, or at least one end of the island. Civil engineering is part of the game or the mayor tools for it would not exist.