Viaduct of Martín Gil, Railway bridge in Manzanal del Barco, Spain.
The Viaduct of Martín Gil is a railway bridge made of reinforced concrete that crosses the Ricobayo Reservoir, stretching 470 meters in length. The main arch span measures 192 meters and rises about 63 meters above the water level.
This railway bridge was completed in 1942 and was the world's largest concrete arch viaduct at the time of its opening. It marked a milestone in Spanish engineering and was named after engineer Martín Gil, who designed the project but died before construction began.
The structure bears the name of engineer Martín Gil, who designed the project but passed away before construction began on this transportation connection.
The bridge is visible from the reservoir dam and can be photographed from various nearby viewpoints. The best vantage point is from the southern side of the reservoir, where the full height and span of the structure can be seen.
The construction techniques used were unusually innovative for the time and demonstrated advanced cantilever methods. These methods allowed engineers to achieve a long span without additional center supports, making it a significant technical experiment of the era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
