BILBAO AND ITS BRIDGES

Bridges have a special significance inthe urban model of Bilbao. They connectthe left and right banks of the river and,at the same time, the play a vital role insocial integration.

With ships entering Bilbao from the outer port, formany years it was imperative to keep the riverfree of obstacles. There could only be a few bridgesand they had to be “passable”, such as the famousBizkaia Bridge transporter bridge, and WorldHeritage Site, commonly known as the HangingBridge of Portugalete, the entry point for shipssailing up the river.

Moving up river to Rontegi Bridge, which isrestricted to vehicular traffic, has never been anobstacle due to its enormous height.

Zubi Zuri is a, 10 m. highand 75 m. long, archedconstruction over the river.The 4 m. wide footbridgeis structured around atubular girder from whicha number of supportsdescend to hold the glassbrick platform, giving theimpression of a spectacularwhite sailboat.

Pedro Arrupe Footbridge is radically different.

Planned by engineer Jose Antonio FERNANDEZ

ORDOÑEZ, it was completed by his son Lorenzo,

following his death. This 6 m. wide structure,

containing thirteen pieces of steel, has six

entrances and measures 140 m. in length. The

bridge is completed by a covering of Brazilian

Walnut wood with a special non-slip treatment

and an anti-vibration device.

Euskalduna Bridge is the nearest to the sea. Engineer JavierMANTEROLA, from Navarre, conceived this new bridgeintended for both motor vehicles and pedestrians. The bridgeis made from a 250 m. long and 27 m. wide curved solid metalstructure, with a large canopy covering the pedestrian area.

Since its inauguration in 1997, Euskalduna Bridge has absorbedmost of the traffic from Deusto Bridge and the tunnel that joinsEnekuri to Morgan Street. Its most emblematic element is a45 m. high illumination tower. All in all, it is much more thanjust an ornament over the river.