The Bridges

Name - Ponte Arrabida

Designer - Edgar Cardoso

Opening date – 1963

Length – 493 meters

Height – 70 meters

 

·     After the 1930s, the Maria Pia Bridge and Luís I bridge could not handle the increasing traffic therefore it was necessary to create an alternative linking between Porto and Villa Nova de Gaia.

·     It was the largest concrete arch in the world.

·     The A1 motorway runs over.

 

 

 

Name - Dom Luís I Bridge

Designer - Teófilo Seyrig

Opening date – 1886

Length – 385 meters
Height – 45 meters 

 

·         The designer, Teófilo Seyrig was disciple of Gustave Eiffel.

·         The upper deck is used by the Metro of Porto.

·         Considered to be the world's biggest one in forged iron.

·         Linking Porto and Villa Nova de Gaia.

·         Used to be the largest arch bridge in the world until 1898.

 

 

 

 

Name - the São João Bridge

Opening date -  1991
Designer -  Edgar Cardoso

Length - 1140 metersHeight - 62/48 meters (measures for each side of the bridge)

 

 

·         Not an arch bridge, but rather a Pi-shaped one.

·         Created to replace the D. Luis Bridge, which couldn’t support the weight of trains any longer

·         Railway bridge, solely created for that purpose.

·         Teacher Edgar Cardoso (who also designed the Arrabida Bridge) won a professional contest  to design the bridge, contested between several international entries.

·         However, when the bridge was opened in June 24th, 1991, Mr. Cardoso was not involved in the opening ceremonies, a rather controversial fact.

 



 

 

 

Name - Maria Pia Bridge

Opening date: 1877

Designed by: Gustave Alexandre Eiffel

Length: 563 meters

Height: 60 meters

 

·         Opened in 1877 by the King of Portugal at the time.

·         Named after a former Portuguese queen.

·         The Maria Pia bridge project was assigned to French architect Gustave Eiffel.

·         Became famous for the method that was to build the bridge; the process started with the building of the arch without any support from below.

·         Two towers were used to support said arch, on each side of the Douro River.

·         Several wires were set up to hold the bow, and then said wires were removed once the bridge was completed.

 

 

 

 

 

Name - Freixo Bridge

Engineer - Daniel de Sousa

Open – 1995

Length – 705 meters

Height – 150 meters

 

 

·         Formed by two twin bridges separated by 10 centimeters.

·         Crossed by the A20 motorway.

·         Made of pre-stressed reinforced concrete.

·         Links the are of the Estádio de Dragão in Porto to Oliveira do Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia.