Bridge of Khazad-dûm

In the fictional world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, the Bridge of Khazad-dûm is a narrow stone bridge crossing a chasm within the eastern gates of the dwarven city of Khazad-dûm (later known as Moria).

The bridge was built to guard the East Gate of Khazad-dûm. It narrowly spanned a deep chasm built under the high arches common in Khazad-dûm. This gave the bridge powerful defensive value, for if an enemy were to breach the East Gate of Khazad-dûm, he would be forced to cross the span of the Bridge (some fifty feet) in single file line, exposing him to the arrows of the Dwarven defenders.

The Eastern end of the bridge connected to the First Hall and through that toward the East Gate of Khazad-dûm. The Western end of the bridge connected to the superstructure of the main city itself.

In the Fellowship of the Ring, the Fellowship were forced to seek a path through Moria, long since abandoned by Durin's Folk. Through the course of this journey, the Fellowship encountered Durin's Bane, a Balrog that had survived the destruction of Thangorodrim.

Seeing that the Fellowship was over matched, Gandalf challenged the Balrog on the span of the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. In the course of this fight, Gandalf shattered the Bridge (and with it, his staff), allowing the rest of Fellowship to flee through Moria by the Eastern Gate.

After the War of the Ring, the descendants of Durin's Folk reclaimed Khazad-dûm and rebuilt the city. It is possible that the Bridge of Khazad-dûm was rebuilt during this period, preserving the original architecture. It is also possible that a more accessible means of crossing was constructed, the Dwarves perhaps fearing less the threat of attack.

Chapter 5 in Book II of The Lord of the Rings is entitled "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm", making this a familiar phrase for Tolkien fans.

In Chaper 5 of Book III of The Lord of the Rings Gandalf refers to the Bridge of Khazad-dûm as Durin's Bridge. Whether this indicates that the Bridge was constructed under Durin's reign is unknown.