Salginatobel Bridge, Arch bridge in Schiers, Switzerland.
The Salginatobel Bridge is a concrete arch that stretches across a deep gorge between Schiers and Schuders, standing roughly 90 meters above the Salgina stream below. The single-lane structure carries road traffic across the valley, built to withstand the forces of both vehicles and nature.
Engineer Robert Maillart designed this concrete structure in 1928, and construction was completed in 1930 using hand-mixed concrete methods. The bridge exemplifies Maillart's approach of using thin arches to span large distances efficiently.
The bridge joins two separate communities and serves as the daily link between the valley village and the mountain hamlet. Its elegant form has become a defining landmark that shapes how locals and visitors perceive this Alpine landscape.
The bridge is passable year-round and accessible from either end, making it easy to cross on foot or by vehicle. Fair weather provides the best viewing conditions for seeing both the structure and the surrounding landscape.
The structure received recognition from an international bridge engineering publication as one of the most beautiful structures of the 20th century. This honor emphasizes the aesthetic quality of its design despite its technical simplicity.
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