Koningshaven bridge, Jeff Bezos.Photo: Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty. Inset: Phillip Faraone/Getty
In order to make room forJeff Bezos' new yacht, some temporary changes will need to be made to a historic bridge in the Netherlands.
The city of Rotterdam — a major port city — has agreed to temporarily dismantle part of the Koningshaven Bridge in order to accommodate the yacht, a city spokeswoman told theWashington Post. (Bezos purchased thePostin 2013, but newspaper staff has said they haveeditorial independence.)
Bloombergpreviously reported that the ship will likely cost more than $500 million.
As is, the yacht is too tall to pass through the bridge, which has a clearance of just over 13 feet, per thePost.
The 58-year-old billionaire and the company building the yacht will reportedly cover the cost, according to theDutch broadcaster Rijnmond.
A rep for Bezos did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
A Rotterdam spokesperson, who confirmed to thePostthat the city will not be paying for the middle section of the bridge to be dismantled and then reassembled, was not able to provide an estimate of how much the project will cost.
“A lot of details need to be worked out,” Frances van Heijst told the newspaper.
Jeff Bezos.Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
Originally built in 1927, the bridge was declared a national monument after being decommissioned in 1994, per thePost.
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While the decision has caused some controversy, city officials said that they decided to agree to it for economic reasons.
“From an economic perspective, we attach great importance to preserving employment,” van Heijst told thePost.
source: people.com
