What type of bridge did Leonardo da Vinci design to swing around a central pivot?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a revolving bridge that could swing around a central pivot.

The concept was intended to serve military movement and river crossings. A bridge that rotates can be opened to allow boats or other traffic to pass, then returned to position for people or vehicles crossing the water. Leonardo’s design emphasized controlled motion rather than permanent removal of the span.

This bridge is different from his portable bridge. A portable bridge is defined by its ability to be transported and assembled, while a revolving bridge remains mounted and moves around a pivot. It is also not a drawbridge, which normally rises or folds upward.

Leonardo’s revolving bridge shows how Renaissance engineers adapted familiar structural forms with mechanical systems. The drawing combines bridge construction with principles of balance, rotation, and counterweighting.