Big bridges in the Big Apple
“Gateways to New York” is a documentary about Swiss engineer Othmar Ammann, who might be an unsung hero today, but he certainly wasn’t when he was building many of New York’s most iconic bridges.
Born in London, Thomas was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. He speaks all three official Swiss languages and enjoys travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.
His works include George Washington Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, Triborough Bridge, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge and Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (pictured).
The film’s director, Martin Witz, talks to swissinfo.ch at the Solothurn Film Festival, where his documentary won the Audience Award, about Ammann’s incredible success story and the challenges in making the film.
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