Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge
Carries:N17
Crosses:Mondego River
Locale:Coimbra, Portugal
Official Name:Ponte de Santa Isabel de Aragão, Rainha de Portugal
Also Known As:Ponte Europa (Europe Bridge)
Maint:Estradas de Portugal
Design:Cable-stayed bridge with semi-fan system
Length:329.4 m (1,080 ft)
Width:30 m (98 ft)
Mainspan:186.5 m (611 ft)
Designer:António José Luís dos Reis
Builder:Bureau d'études Greisch
Cost: 59,300,000
Inaugurated:May 2004

The Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte Rainha Santa Isabel) is a cable-stayed bridge with semi-fan system completed in 2003 and opened in 2004, crossing the Mondego River.[1] Although it had an initial estimated value of 38.65 million, it severely surpassed that to 59.3 million.[2]

The construction of this bridge permitted a quicker access to the south of the city of Coimbra, namely to Pólo II section of the University of Coimbra. It carries N17 but connects to IC2. Construction was interrupted in October 2002 due to "alleged threat of collapse"[3] During its construction it was known as Ponte Europa (Europe Bridge) which still holds as an alternate name, although not official.

References

  1. Web site: Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge (Coimbra, 2003). 2020-09-15. Structurae. en.
  2. [Jornal de Notícias]
  3. Web site: Aecops - Ponte Rainha Santa Isabel finalmente inaugurada. 2020-09-15. prewww.aecops.pt.

External links