Sunken Pedestrian Bridge in the Netherlands Parts Moat Waters Like Moses!

No, your eyes are not deceiving you - the waters have indeed parted! This incredible “sunken” bridge located in the Netherlands is giving visitors a unique way to access a beautiful <a href="http://inhabitat.com/16th-century-tower-converted-to-residence-with-3-storey-wooden-parasite/" target="_blank">17th Century Dutch fort</a>. Designed by <a href="http://www.ro-ad.org" target="_blank">RO &amp; AD Architects</a>, the Moses Bridge literally parts the waters that surround the fort, allowing pedestrians to pass through. The bridge is made from sustainable Accsys Technologies <a href="http://www.accoya.com/" target="_blank">Accoya wood</a>, which is both <a href="http://inhabitat.com/low-impact-pinus-house-takes-flight-in-a-brazilian-pine-forest/" target="_blank">FSC and PEFC certified</a>.

A series of moats and fortresses were built over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defence_lines_of_the_Netherlands" target="_blank">West Brabant Water Line</a> region of the Netherlands during the 17^th century, to protect invasion from France and Spain.

Fort de Roovere was surrounded with a shallow moat, too deep to march across yet too shallow for boats. The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/casa-leon-low-impact-home-mimics-the-spanish-mountains-with-a-sloping-greef-roof/" target="_blank">earthen fort</a> remained protected- until now.

From afar, the Moses Bridge is invisible to the eye. The flow of the moat appears continuous, as the water level remains at the same level, reflecting the surrounding foliage. As the visitor gets closer to the fort, the bridge appears, as a break in the water and its sloping walls containing it.

Lying flush with the level of the soil and earth, the bridge descends into the ground. Lined with wood sheet piling for walls, the deck and stairs sit between, made from sustainable hardwood that is <a href="http://inhabitat.com/three-johns-carve-incredibly-detailed-wood-panels-in-spain/" target="_blank">Cradle to Cradle</a> Gold certified.

The Accoya wood is also treated with a nontoxic coating, protecting it from fungal decay and increasing its durability- making it an ideal <a href="http://inhabitat.com/fantastic-woodland-eco-workspaces-now-available-for-rent-in-england/" target="_blank">sustainable material</a> for the sunken bridge. Like a dam, the walls of the bridge hold the waters of the moat back, and like Moses, the bridge parts the seas so that <a href="http://inhabitat.com/bagley-pedestrian-bridge-in-detroit-provides-safe-access-to-canada/" target="_blank">pedestrians may pass</a>.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/watgs-extraordinary-cloud-bridge-could-make-the-2016-olympics-in-rio-the-greenest-yet/" target="_blank">unique bridge</a> now allows visitors to access the fort, and to proceed through the moat with the waters at chest level. The Moses Bridge gives visitors a unique opportunity to pass through parted waters to a historic fortress of defense.