Puente Viejo, Fuentidueña de Tajo, bridge in Fuentidueña de Tajo, Community of Madrid, Spain
The Puente Viejo is a steel-plate bridge spanning the Tagus River in Fuentidueña de Tajo. It measures about 65 meters long and 6 meters wide, with two main sections roughly 32 meters each, and features narrow sidewalks on both sides for pedestrians.
The bridge was completed around 1871 and replaced an earlier hanging bridge made of iron threads and cables that proved inadequate for traffic. It was part of a broader effort to improve roads and travel connectivity in the Madrid region.
The bridge carries the name Puente Viejo, meaning 'old bridge,' which reflects its role in the daily life of the town. Locals have used it to cross the river for generations, and it has become a familiar sight woven into the community's routine.
The bridge is easily accessible and located near the town center of Fuentidueña de Tajo. You can walk on it freely, with the sidewalks offering enough space to move safely alongside traffic.
Many people mistakenly believe that Gustave Eiffel helped design it, but it was actually built by local engineers and workers inspired by a French engineer named Jules Seguin who had a company in Madrid. This shows how local craftsmen applied modern iron-building techniques without gaining international recognition.
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