How bad is the Ponte di Costituzione (Venice) with luggage?

I'm not that steady on my feet ( need a cane), but I don't think I'd be that concerned unless it was raining or foggy. In any case, there's a strip of concrete that runs up the middle of the bridge, so if you're really worried, you could use that instead of walking on the glass.

It is the worst bridge I have ever crossed. Go very slowly, holding onto the guard rails. The rise is all messed up. I watched a man slip and wrench his back on dry steps, and he hobbled the rest of the way across. If you can avoid it, do so. Otherwise, forewarned is forearmed.

I don't think I'd be that concerned unless it was raining or foggy

Ummmm i wouldn’t want to just hope for no rain!!!

The bridge is OK, just be careful. Sure, the configuration of the steps can be confusing because the rise changes every few steps, but if you can cope with hiking trails you can manage the bridge.
A friend lived near Ferrovia, and bought five Billy bookcases from Ikea in Padua., the van dropped them off at P. Roma. We managed to trolley them across the Calatrava bridge without incident.
Main issue was the trolley had a flat tyre.

Another option, get off the train at Mestre and take the No 2 bus to Piazzale Roma.

If you walk at the side of the bridge, you are walking on the steps made of frosted glass. Walk in the centre on the concrete steps and you are OK. It is not hard to use wheeled luggage on the bridge.

Thanks, everyone. I think Sam’s suggestion is the best for us. At 75 and 78, although we are strong at hiking (like 10- mile hikes with 3000:feet of ascent and descent), we both worry about losing our balance and falling. I hike with poles for stability. He needs a railing to hold onto. So that would mean using the slippery glass steps for him, while I would have to negotiate the concrete steps with my poles. Not a pretty sight!

Aussie, having transported a Billy bookcase from IKEA to my home and then muscled it from car to living room where I assembled it, I am awed at your accomplishment of getting five of them over that bridge with a trolley. I’ll bet there were some who could not resist photographing your effort.

Carting the book cases over the bridge was just the start. Negotiating the mob at the foot of the Scalzi bridge was insane.
PERMESSO
PERMESSO
AVANTI etc.

Bear in mind that the Scalzi, Rialto and Academia bridges are all steeper than the Calatrava.

I would not stay at the AC Marriott if it was free. Fifty metres from the bus terminal, the location is lousy. A million miles from anything worth visiting, half an hour by vaporetto from San Marco.

If you choose to take the No 2 bus from Mestre, remember that you have to descend from the platform down to the subway, walk along the subway, ascend to the concourse level, all with your luggage.
Then exit the station, find the No2 bus, get on board with your luggage. There is a certain amount of dealing around the Mestre station, and they are not dealing hands for a genteel foursome of bridge.

Alternately, stay on the train. Get a nice view of the lagoon and then that knockout view of the Grand Canal as you exit. At the right end of the steps there is a ramp, so avoid the steps.

Hire a porter (porta baggali) to take your luggage to your hotel. Porters are licensed by the Commune and display a badge.

Too easy.

Wouldn't be too concerned, you described yourself as solid hikers so this shouldn't be a problem. Sure its artistic and it has a number of oddities that you wouldn't normally find in a foot bridge.

I would tell you the one concern or, be aware, is when various strangers would run up to you to grab your bag AS YOU'RE walking up'n over, then ask for cash upon the other side. This happened to my parents, who while pleasantly relieved, were naive to the fact that this simple gesture, was in fact a payment ruse.

You could always walk along to the next bridge from the station, cross over, and double back to the hotel.
Or pick a hotel on the side of the Canal where the station is for peace of mind.
I think getting a visibly licensed porter is a good idea though.

We’ve never had offers from “helpers” on the Calatrava bridge, although seeing travellers with luggage the size of a fridge would indicate that there is an opening for such a service. Certainly the Scalzi bridge, the next bridge down the Grand Canal, would be a fertile market place - that bridge is a killer with bags, as is the Accademia which has the same geometry as the Scalzi.
Once, catching the train from Rome, a bloke wearing a vest labelled “Crew” hoiked our bags on bord and held out his hand. We rewarded him for his enterprise.

Our friend in Venice, he of the Billy bookcses, writes novels set in Venice. In his first book, he has his character helping women with dogs across the Accademia bridge. In his next novel, the character has franchised the operation to the Calatrava, Scalzi and Rialto bridges.
Philip Jones is the writer.

I am coming around to the thought I should overcome my aversion to using the vaporetto with luggage, and give up on crossing the bridge to reach the AC Hotel. I have found some appealing small hotels and B and B’s in San Polo, close to the Riva di Basil or San Stae vaporetto stops. All say they are within 10-a5 minutes’ walk to Piazzale Roma, which is fine. I know there may be a couple of the small Venetian bridges to cross, but that kind is not a problem at all.

And who knows, maybe a “helper” will show up like the handsome young man in business suit and man bun who picked up my bag and carried it over the little bridge crossing Riva Della Fava near Campo San Lio for me will appear. He did not say a word, just gestured to the bag and then carried it over the bridge and set it down, walking away without a word or backward glance—-and no asking for money. Maybe he has a petite nonna and I reminded him of her. . . .

Aussie, I was reading these replies and immediately thought of the dog-carrying scheme from the book while you were describing the bookcases (before you mentioned it)….. Recognizeable! 🤣🤣

I think Lola, that once you see the Calatrava bridge, you will laugh at what all the fuss was about.

But I have seen it! Last time we were in Venice for a week, we went to Piazzale Roma to meet family members who were coming from the airport by taxi. While we waited, we admired the bridge but noticed people struggling with luggage on the downhill side. And standing there watching, considering my persistent vertigo and my puny size (under 100 lbs) I could not imagine negotiating it with luggage myself.

But we may be in Venice in March, 6 months before the September trip I am talking about here, and will give it a go (without luggage), just to see.

Aussie gave great advice "hire a Porter." There was three of us with the same concerns as you about crossing the bridge. The porter came to our hotel (about 5+ minutes to the bridge) took our luggage and we were off. I do not remember what it cost, but it was WORTH the small price.

Wasn't there a plan to put in a little cable car device alongside attached to the bridge, so that people could cross it more easily?
I seem to remember it was fraught with problems and maybe given up as a bad job?
Haven't been to Venice since 2017, so I don't know.

The installed the transporter but it had problems and was removed.

The glass elevator is mentioned in the article I linked in my original post. It overheated and was removed for safety reasons.

The glass elevator features in a novel by my friend in Venice, Philip Jones. Same bloke who bought the Billy bookcases.

In the novel, the glass elevator actually was operational.
Total fiction!