Arrábida Bridge

Category: Civil Architecture > Bridge

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Ouro

Location

The Arrábida Bridge rises over the Douro River, connecting the Arrábida area in Porto to the Vila Nova de Gaia bank. Its construction took place in the urban area of Ouro, in the municipality of Porto. Its position, relatively close to the river mouth, offers a broad and unique perspective of the river landscape and estuary.

A Notable Engineering Feat

Conceived by Engineer Edgar Cardoso, the Arrábida Bridge represents a significant milestone in Portuguese and world engineering. Inaugurated in 1963, it stood out for possessing, at the time of its completion, the largest reinforced concrete arch in the world. This distinction cemented its reputation as a true masterpiece of bridge engineering.

Its structure impresses with its dimensions: a deck approximately 493 meters long and 26.5 meters wide. The central element is its grand main arch, with a span of 270 meters and a rise of 52 meters. This arch is made up of two parallel hollow ribs, connected by bracing elements, revealing the complexity and innovation of its architectural and structural design.

Heritage and Symbolism

The construction of the Arrábida Bridge arose from the growing need for a new and more efficient road link between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, easing traffic on the older bridges. Its inauguration in 1963 marked an important step in the modernization of the region's infrastructure. In 2013, on its fiftieth anniversary, the bridge was formally classified as a National Monument, underscoring its undeniable importance in Portuguese heritage.

Beyond its practical function and engineering value, the Arrábida Bridge is seen as one of Porto's most powerful symbols, strikingly representing the city of the 20th century. In the towers that once housed the pedestrian access elevators, it is still possible to observe four imposing bronze sculptures, five meters in height. These artistic works, by sculptors Barata Feyo and Gustavo Bastos, symbolize the different facets of the city and the human capacity to interact with and cross watercourses.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt