Some Amazing

Bridges
ALAMILLO BRIDGE AND LA CARTUJA VIADUCT
(Santiago Calatrava)

Seville, Spain 1987 – 1992 River Guadalquivir Motor and pedestrian bridge Total
length of the bridge 250 m (820 ft), with maximum span 200 m (656 ft), and inclined
58 degrees on the horizontal. Total length of the viaduct 526.5 m (1727 ft)
This type of cable-stayed bridge, which substitutes the weight of an inclined pylon for
one set of stay cables, creates a dialogue of balance between pylon and deck. 
PONT D'ORLEANS
(Santiago Calatrava)
Pont de l’Europe, Orléans, France 1996 – 2000 on the River Loire.
Total length 470.6 m (1544 ft). The symmetrical piers, which are cut
as modern bastions, create a new gateway for the city. The steel
bridge structure employs a suspended inclined arch standing on
clear concrete pylons. 
LUSITANIA BRIDGE
(Santiago Calatrava)

Merida, Spain 1988 – 1991.

The River Guadiana motor
and pedestrian bridge with
total length 465 m (1525.5
ft), and maximum span 189
m (620 ft). The central load-
bearing element of the
bridge is its box girder which
is suspended from the steel
tied arch by 23 steel rod
pairs.  
CAMPO VOLANTIN
FOOTBRIDGE
(Santiago Calatrava)

Bilbao, Spain 1994 – 1997.

The River Bilbao pedestrian
crossing with total length
and maximum span 75 m
(246 ft). Depth of arch 15.3
m (50 ft). Concrete
abutments and ramps with
inclined steel arch and
cradle deck. The tilted steel
arch of the bridge with its
sweeping parabolic form
appears graceful and slim. 
FOOTBRIDGE AT PUERTO MADERO
(Santiago Calatrava)
Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Start 1998
The Puente de la Mujer is a rotating suspension bridge, 102m (335 ft) long, set between a pair of
fixed bridges.  The central section is suspended by cables from an inclined pylon 39m (128 ft)
high.  This section of the bridge can rotate 90 degrees to allow free passage of water traffic. Built
of reinforced concrete and steel and paved with natural stone or ceramics, the Puente de la
Mujer will be illuminated at night, transforming it into a new symbol for Buenos Aires. 
Incrementally
Launched Bridges
 BRIDGE OVER RESTEL
VALLEY, ITALY (1972-73)
 Incrementally launched bridge.
 Road bridge, width 9.0 meters,
spans 10 x 32 = 320 meters.
 Bridge strongly curved in plan,
R = 150 meters, corresponding
to an angle of 122°.
 Girder depth 2.5 meters,
corresponding to a
slenderness ratio of 1:13.
 BRIDGE ACROSS NECKAR VALLEY AT NECKARBURG (1976-77)
 Six-lane autobahn bridge, total width 2 x 15.0 = 31.0 meters, height over valley up to
95 meters.
 Side spans 30 meters, main span bridged by an arch with a span of 154 meters and a
height of 50 meters.  Distance between columns over arch 33 meters.
 Arches with double-cell box girders, width 6.5 meters, depth 3.0 meters. 
Superstructure has box girders 2.3 meters in depth, and width varying from 5.1 to 7.1
meters.
 Arches built by free cantilevering using an auxiliary stay cable system. 
Superstructures incrementally launched over stayed arch.
 BRIDGE ACROSS AICH
VALLEY NEAR STUTTGART
(1981-83)
 Four-lane highway bridge,
crossing two valleys, total
width 27 meters, maximum
height over valley 50 meters.
 Longest bridge thus far
launched from one end, total
length 1161 meters, spans
between 51 and 84 meters. 
Girder depth 3.50 meters,
corresponding to 1/24 of
maximum span.  Fixed point of
finished bridge at the ridge
between the valleys. 
 Launching from one abutment,
using cable-stayed auxiliary
piers in the main spans.
Movable Bridges
 MOVEABLE BRIDGE : GUIABA RIVER AT PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL (1954-60)
 Total length 777 meters, consisting of approaches with 21.5-meter spans, sidespans of 43
meters and the main bridge, a lift bridge with a span of 55.8 meters.
 The superstructure of the lift bridge is a steel plate girder with an orthotropic deck and a depth
equal to that in the side spans, which gives a pleasing appearance.
 The box section lift towers are of concrete, hiding and protecting the counterweights and
machinery inside, resulting in a smooth appearance.
 The superstructure of the side spans and approaches were the first prestressed concrete bridges
in this area.
 MOVEABLE BRIDGE : BRIDGE ACROSS SHATT-AL-ARAB, IRAQ (1972-78)
 The bridges across the Shatt-al-Arab at Basrah have a total length of 331.75 plus 430.15 meters and normal
spans of 46.9 meters.  The center section of the smaller bridge is a swing bridge with cantilever lengths of 33.5
meters.  Deck width 21 meters.
 The superstructure of the entire bridge is a prestressed concrete box girder.  The weight of the swing bridge, 3500
tons, makes it the heaviest of its kind in the world.
 Foundation of all piers on large diameter bore piles.
 The superstructure of both bridges, including the swing bridge, was built by incremental launching from one
abutment to the other.  After reaching the final position, the tendons at the joints at both ends of the swing bridge
were released and removed.
Engineering
Solutions
Wide Crossing No Piers
Half Bridge Solution
A Bridge Crossing a Deep Valley
A Very Deep Valley
The Solution
The Solution
The Bridge
Millau (Paris-Barcelona) Bridge
 Span 2.46km
 First cable-stayed bridge
to have 7 pylons
 Bridge is 343m at highest
point (19m taller than the
Eiffel Tower)
 Two-lane each side, 32m
wide deck, suspended
270m above valley
 3m side screens reduce
effects of wind by 50%
(wind speed up to
150km/h)