One of Venice's four bridges to cross the city's Grand Canal may be torn down and replaced by a more contemporary equivalent. Designed by Alfred Neville and constructed in iron in 1854, the original Ponte dell'Accademia has been replaced twice - the steel original exchanged for a wooden counterpart in 1933, then perfectly replicated in 1986. However, plans to replace the bridge have met with strong opposition. Echoing the sentiments of local residents and other conservation groups, Lidia Fersuoch of the Italian conservation group Italia Nostra says the splintering bridge should be restored. Others argue that a new bridge will save the city money and and cater to the needs of all visiting demographics saying elderly and disabled access to the bridge is limited.
Image: Ponte dell'Accademia, Venice
