Dom Luís I Bridge
Dom Luís I Bridge Ponte de Dom Luís I | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Dom Luís I Bridge | |
| Coordinates | 41°08′24″N 8°36′34″W / 41.139863°N 8.609336°W |
| Carries | Light rail line and pedestrians (upper deck) Public transport and pedestrians (lower deck) |
| Crosses | Rio Douro |
| Locale | Porto, between the City of Porto proper and Vila Nova de Gaia |
| Official name | Ponte de D. Luís |
| Preceded by | Ponte Pênsil |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Two-hinged double-deck arch bridge |
| Material | Iron |
| Trough construction | Granite |
| Pier construction | Asphalt |
| Total length | Two decks of varying lengths: 172 metres (564 ft) (lower deck) and 395.25 metres (1,296.8 ft) |
| Width | 8 metres (26 ft) vehicular width (between pedestrian walkways) |
| Height | 45 metres (148 ft) |
| Longest span | 395.25 metres (1,296.8 ft) |
| History | |
| Designer | Théophile Seyrig |
| Constructed by | Société de Willebroek |
| Construction start | 21 November 1881 |
| Construction end | 30 October 1886 |
| Construction cost | 369,000$00 réis |
| Inaugurated | 31 October 1886 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | 1 November 1886–1 January 1944 |
| Part of | Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iv) |
| Reference | 755 |
| Inscription | 1996 (20th Session) |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument of Public Interest |
| Designated | 26 February 1982 |
| Reference no. | IPA.00005548 / PT011312140057 |
| Location | |
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The Dom Luís I Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte de Dom Luís I), or Luís I Bridge, is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the river Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. At its construction, its 172 metres (564 ft) span was the longest of its type in the world. It can be confused with the nearby Maria Pia Bridge, a railway bridge that was built 9 years earlier (and is located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) to the east), which is similar in aspect to the Luís I bridge.
Today, the bridge's upper level is used by pedestrians and by line D of the Porto Metro, whilst the lower level is used by buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians. The lower level links to the Porto waterfront, including the Praça da Ribeira and the lower station of the Guindais Funicular, at its northern end, and to Gaia waterfront, with its Port wine lodges, at its southern end. The upper level connects to Porto city centre and São Bento station at its northern end, and adjoins the Serra do Pilar Monastery and the upper station of the Gaia Cable Car at its southern end.