Suspension Bridge (pillars that supported it)

Category: Civil Architecture > Pillar

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Ribeira

Ponte Pênsil

Officially known as the D. Maria II Bridge, it was a suspension bridge that connected the banks of the Douro River, linking Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia.

Construction

Construction began on May 2, 1841, and was completed in 1842, taking about two years.

Pillars

The bridge had stone pillars 18 meters high. It was composed of 8 iron cables, which supported the structure, measuring 170.14 meters in length and 6 meters in width.

Importance

It significantly improved traffic between the two banks, replacing the old and unsafe Ponte das Barcas.

Projects and Engineering

The construction was carried out by the French company Claranges Lucotte et Cie, and the project was designed by the engineer Stanislas Bigot, with the collaboration of other engineers.

Inauguration

The bridge was inaugurated on February 17, 1843, amidst flooding in the Douro, which forced the dismantling of the Ponte das Barcas.

Duration

The Ponte Pênsil operated for about 45 years, being replaced by the Luís I Bridge, which was built next to it.

Dismantling

In 1887, the bridge was dismantled, but the pillars and the ruins of the guardhouse that controlled access to the crossing still remain.

Future Projects

In 2006, a project was proposed for the reconstruction of the Ponte Pênsil, taking advantage of the remaining pillars, but the topic continues to be debated and generating controversies.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponte_pênsil_D._Maria_II

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