Arouca 516

Arouca 516

516 Arouca
Coordinates40°57′51.84″N 8°10′31.12″W / 40.9644000°N 8.1753111°W / 40.9644000; -8.1753111
CarriesWalkway
CrossesPaiva River
LocaleArouca, Aveiro District, Portugal
Website516arouca.pt/en
Characteristics
DesignSuspension bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length516 m (1,693 ft)
Width1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
Height176 m (577 ft)
No. of lanes1
History
Contracted lead designerItecons
Constructed byConduril - Engenharia SA
Construction startJuly 2020
Opened29 April 2021; 3 years ago (2021-04-29)
Inaugurated2 May 2021; 3 years ago (2021-05-02)
Location
Map

Arouca 516 is one of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, located in the municipality of Arouca, in the North Region and the Aveiro District of Portugal. The bridge has a length of 516 m (1,693 ft).[1] It is suspended 175 m (574 ft) above the Paiva River, which it spans.[2] Its name is a reference to its extension in meters and the municipality where it is located.[3]

Its length exceeds by 16 m (52 ft) the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland, opened on 29 July 2017, by about 500 m (1,600 ft).[4]

Construction of the bridge started in May 2018.[2] It opened on 29 April 2021 to residents of the municipality and on 2 May to the general public, with prior purchase of tickets online.[5] Access to the bridge is possible either from Canelas or Alvarenga and a guide always accompanies visitor groups.[6] The first person to cross the bridge was Hugo Xavier.[7]

The bridge was designed by the Portuguese research institution Itecons[8] and constructed by Conduril Engenharia, S.A.,[2] at a cost of approximately €2.3 million.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "World's longest pedestrian suspension bridge is opening in Portugal". CNN Travel. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Treisman, Rachel (30 April 2021). "Portugal Opens World's Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge, And It's A Trip". NPR. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  3. ^ Don't Look Down: World's Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge Opens to the Public (PHOTOS)
  4. ^ "World's longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Switzerland". CNN Travel. 31 July 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. ^ "Ponte 516 Arouca abre amanhã a moradores e segunda ao público em geral".
  6. ^ "Arouca 516 - The Longest Footbridge in the World". 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021.
  7. ^ Arouca, Staff and agencies in (30 April 2021). "World's longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Portugal". the Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Itecons - Institute for Research and Technological Development for Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability". Archived from the original on 27 April 2007.
  9. ^ Demony, Catarina (29 April 2021). "High anxiety: World's longest pedestrian suspension bridge opens in Portugal". reuters.com. Retrieved 2 May 2021.