Snake Bridge

What is going on with this bridge???

Snake bridges, also known as Roving bridges were built for a specific purpose. These bridges were built over a canal to allow a horse towing a boat to cross the canal when the towpath changes sides. If a horse were to walk up one side of a bridge, cross over and then walk down the opposite side, the tow rope would be caught draping over the bridge. Some bridges, built of iron, had a split in the middle to allow the line to drop through the bridge. These bridges were called — you ready???— Split bridges.

Having the horse walk up to the bridge and descend on the same side, turned the horse through 360 degrees and did not require unhitching the towline.

Who said those folks of old were not geniuses???