Assut de l'Or Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge in City of Arts and Sciences, Spain
The Assut de l'Or Bridge is a cable-stayed structure in the City of Arts and Sciences with a white pylon rising 125 meters, supported by 29 parallel cables spanning 180 meters across the former Túria riverbed. The construction carries six vehicle lanes, two tram tracks, and separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists in one combined crossing.
Architect Santiago Calatrava designed this structure, which was completed in 2008 as a link between different sections of the cultural complex. The project represented a major investment in reshaping the urban landscape of Valencia.
Local residents call this bridge El Perniler and Pont de l'Arpa, names that come from its resemblance to a ham holder and a harp. These everyday names show how people in Valencia have made the structure part of their daily vocabulary.
The bridge is easily accessible to pedestrians and cyclists with clearly marked separate pathways for each. Visitors should know that the area is busier during daytime hours and views of surrounding architecture are best appreciated from specific vantage points along the crossing.
The backward-curved pylon contains concrete counterweights embedded within the roadway surface to maintain structural balance as it supports the cable system. This hidden engineering solution is not visible to most visitors, yet it allows the bridge to maintain its elegant form without extra external supports.
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