

When walking across the rope bridge, it does move slightly from side to side. Over the last week, they've been adding the finishing touches. Since January, a crew of about 20 would use harnesses, scaffolding and other safety precautions as they worked on these rafts.

"Most guys have never seen sharks this close, let alone worked over top of them," said Hess.

Hess says building this bridge took 4 tons of steel, 148 bolts, enough rope to span the length of 63 football fields and a little bit of courage. "It's not your average job site," said Project Manager Douglas Hess. "You can see 10-, 12-, 14-feet sharks below you," said Perno. While you walk the 81 feet across, be sure to look down so you don't miss nearly 30 sandbar, sand tiger and nurse sharks. For a more immersive view of their sharks, guests can walk through Adventure Aquarium’s Shark Tunnel, which is the longest in New Jersey. "And it really gives you that behind the scenes view that guests never had before."Īnd that view comes from right overhead on what's being called the longest V-shaped rope suspended bridge of its kind. With the bridge, this activity offers guests the chance to walk across the world’s longest shark bridgesuspended just inches above the waterwith an elevated, aerial view of several large shark species. You get to see divers get into the exhibit, clean the exhibit, or a husbandry staff pole feed our sharks," said Kim Perno, Guest Experience Manager. "You're going to get to see staff at work. After three-and-a-half months of careful work, the Shark Bridge is opening. (WPVI) - Starting Friday, you can look at sharks in a whole new way at Adventure Aquarium in Camden. produced and installed the Shark Bridge.Starting Friday, you can look at sharks in a whole new way at Adventure Aquarium in Camden.ĬAMDEN, N.J. designed and engineered the Shark Bridge, with construction beginning in February and concluding in mid-April. The addition of the Shark Bridge has tripled the viewing area that surrounds the shark tank for guests prior to exiting Newport Aquarium’s exhibits area.Ĭincinnati-based GBBN Architects and THP Limited Inc. More than 4 miles (approximately 21,750 feet) of rope was used to construct the Shark Bridge.Īpproximately 1.5 tons (3,460 pounds) of steel were used to construct the Shark Bridge.
#Aquarium with shark bridge install#
It took approximately 788 hours of labor to fabricate, build and install the Shark Bridge. To learn more about the WAVE Foundation, click here.
#Aquarium with shark bridge free#
Endangered Species Act.įor more information on Newport Aquarium, click here or call toll free 800-406-FISH (3474). In June 2014, scalloped hammerheads became the first species of shark protected by the U.S. Guests who pass through the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit can learn about the scalloped hammerhead conservation organizations the WAVE Foundation at Newport Aquarium is supporting – the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawaii and the Costa Rica-based nonprofit Misión Tiburón. “Newport Aquarium is proud to be the only place in the Midwest that exhibits such a magnificent species of shark, and we are committed to educating our community about the importance of protecting this endangered species.” “There are less than 20 institutions in the world with scalloped hammerhead sharks on exhibit,” said Chris Pierson, Newport Aquarium operations director. Scalloped hammerhead sharks are now on exhibit at Newport Aquarium. Over time, these juveniles will triple in size as adult scalloped hammerhead sharks can grow up to 14 feet in length and more than 300 pounds. “It’s an adventure that you can only get at Newport Aquarium.”Ī family-friendly attraction, Shark Bridge is included with admission to Newport Aquarium.Ĭommemorating the opening of the Shark Bridge, Newport Aquarium has added extremely rare scalloped hammerhead sharks into the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit.Īfter the scalloped hammerheads went into the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit April 27-29, Newport Aquarium now has the largest collection of scalloped hammerhead sharks on display in North America, as well as one of the largest in the world.Įach of Newport Aquarium’s scalloped hammerhead sharks were born in 2014 during the months of June and July near Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, one of the most the most stable breeding grounds for the endangered species. “For our thrill-seeking guests who dare to cross, Shark Bridge is a breathtaking way to experience sharks like never before,” said Eric Rose, executive director at Newport Aquarium.
