Maria Pia Bridge

bridge, Porto, Portugal

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July 1, 2026

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The Maria Pia Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel, is an arch bridge that spans the Douro River near Porto, Portugal. Completed in 1877, it was the longest-spanning structure of its type at the time, with a crescent-shaped span of 157 meters (522 feet). The bridge features a wide spreading of its arches at the base, providing increased lateral stiffness. It was designed with hinges at its supports to facilitate construction and create a powerful visual image. The Maria Pia Bridge was a significant engineering achievement, showcasing advancements in metal arch bridge construction.123

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Railway bridges
The first, the 1877 Maria Pia Bridge over the Duoro River near Porto, Portugal, is a 157-meter (522-foot) crescent-shaped span that rises 42 meters (140 feet) at its crown. Again, a wide spreading of the arches at their base gives this structure greater lateral stiffness. The crowning achievement of…
Read More
The first, the 1877 Maria Pia Bridge over the Duoro River near Porto, Portugal, is a 157-meter (522-foot) crescent-shaped span that rises 42 meters (140 feet) at its crown. Again, a wide spreading of the arches at their base gives this structure greater lateral stiffness. The crowning achievement of…
Read More