Jisr Isdud

Jisr Isdud or Isdud Bridge, also known as the Ad Halom Bridge,^[1]^[2] was a 13th century Mamluk bridge built over the Lakhish River (Wadi Sukrir/Wadi Fakhira).^[2] It is located approximately 1.5 km north of the Ad Halom junction.^[1] The bridge is similar in style and history to the nearby Jisr Jindas and Yibna Bridge.^[3]

The bridge is used today by pedestrians and cyclists.^[3]

^ ^a ^b "Jisr Isdud". antiquities.org.il. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
^ ^a ^b Petersen, A. (2008): Bridges in Medieval Palestine, in U. Vermeulen & K. Dhulster (eds.), History of Egypt & Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid & Mamluk Eras V Archived 2023-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, V. Peeters, Leuven
^ ^a ^b Dvir, Noam (2010-03-10). "Ancient Ashdod Bridge Restored to Former Glory". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07. The Ad Halom interchange south of Ashdod is known to most Israelis for its heavy traffic jams twice a day…. The Mamluks… established… three stone bridges surviving until today: near Yavneh, near the northern entrance to Lod, and the Ad Halom bridge over the Lachish stream. The three were built from local sandstone and have the same design - three pointed arches with the central one slightly taller than the other two… In June 1946, it was blown up by the Palmach during the "Night of the Bridges". Two years later, in the War of Independence, the bridge was blown up again, by a Golani Brigade unit, to stop the Egyptian army's advance… The operation's success led to the renaming of the bridge from "Gisser Asdud" (Ashdod Bridge) to "Ad Halom" (up to this stage). After the war, the bridge was restored without any attention to its historic significance and without any attempt to preserve the ancient stonework. For years, it carried heavy motorized traffic, until being replaced a few years ago by a modern interchange. The road company decided to use the opportunity to restore it again, this time in accordance with strict preservation codes. The Antiquities Authority dismantled the concrete middle arch, and rebuilt the bridge using the same technique as the Mamluks. The project was led by veteran preservation architect Saadia Mendel… The bridge will now be used by pedestrians and cyclists.

[antiquities.org.il-1] "Jisr Isdud". antiquities.org.il. Retrieved 2022-12-27.

[Petersen-2] Petersen, A. (2008): Bridges in Medieval Palestine, in U. Vermeulen & K. Dhulster (eds.), History of Egypt & Syria in the Fatimid, Ayyubid & Mamluk Eras V Archived 2023-01-07 at the Wayback Machine, V. Peeters, Leuven

[Dvir_2010-3] Dvir, Noam (2010-03-10). "Ancient Ashdod Bridge Restored to Former Glory". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2023-01-07. The Ad Halom interchange south of Ashdod is known to most Israelis for its heavy traffic jams twice a day…. The Mamluks… established… three stone bridges surviving until today: near Yavneh, near the northern entrance to Lod, and the Ad Halom bridge over the Lachish stream. The three were built from local sandstone and have the same design - three pointed arches with the central one slightly taller than the other two… In June 1946, it was blown up by the Palmach during the "Night of the Bridges". Two years later, in the War of Independence, the bridge was blown up again, by a Golani Brigade unit, to stop the Egyptian army's advance… The operation's success led to the renaming of the bridge from "Gisser Asdud" (Ashdod Bridge) to "Ad Halom" (up to this stage). After the war, the bridge was restored without any attention to its historic significance and without any attempt to preserve the ancient stonework. For years, it carried heavy motorized traffic, until being replaced a few years ago by a modern interchange. The road company decided to use the opportunity to restore it again, this time in accordance with strict preservation codes. The Antiquities Authority dismantled the concrete middle arch, and rebuilt the bridge using the same technique as the Mamluks. The project was led by veteran preservation architect Saadia Mendel… The bridge will now be used by pedestrians and cyclists.

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