Portimao is the largest city in the western Algarve. It is located on the banks of the Arade river. If you have had the opportunity to visit the Algarve, you may have crossed the Portimao Bridge. It is an iron road bridge. The bridge was built by the well-known French structural engineer, Gustave Eiffel. The bridge has been cited as the “Algarve’s answer to the Eiffel tower”.
The bridge was built in 1876. The bridge was built using techniques later implemented by Gustave Eiffel to develop other structures, including the Eiffel Tower. Gustave thought that there is a demand for bridges that can be built in a short period of time and have precast wrought iron models.
The bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with three prestressed reinforced concrete spans. The central section of the bridge is 256 meters long and the two lateral sections are 107 meters long. There are also two 107-meter reinforced concrete towers in the form of an inverted ‘Y’ between the three bays. The bridge has a road platform so that vehicles can pass over the bridge. The deck of the track is supported on beams and iron safety parapets. The upper deck that constitutes the actual highway for traffic is between 12 and 17 meters wide and has two lanes in each direction.
The most important feature of the bridge is that there is no rigid connection along the suspended road surface. The bridge is also fitted with a number of sway dampers as the area is prone to seismic activity and this property makes the bridge protected against seismic destruction.
If you have the opportunity to drive over the Portimao Bridge, you will notice that the metal structures that support the bridge consist of vertical, horizontal and diagonal elements that are firmly secured to the end posts. The bridge’s foundations were laid deep underwater through the use of a series of hydraulic presses and by curving the edges of the supporting piers. The foundation created for the bridge was so strong that it could withstand more than a hundred years.
Gustave Eiffel’s passion did not stop and he built many more structures, such as the Maria Pia Bridge. It is more commonly called Ponte Dona Maria and was built in 1877. It is known as the longest arched bridge in the world. It is 352 meters long and has a 62-meter train track that runs over the river.
Eiffel believed that the bridge should be supported by curved open metal truss. He not only allowed the wind to flow across the bridge, but it was less expensive to build. It is truly a pleasurable experience to wander through Portugal’s rich fertile land, forested hills, vineyards and farms and enjoy the natural beauty. The city has something for everyone to enjoy.
Make sure that if you plan a holiday in Portugal, you have the opportunity to see the two wonderful constructions that helped Gustave Eiffel become a world renowned person.
