Port à l'Anglais Bridge, Cable-stayed steel bridge in Alfortville, France
The Port à l'Anglais Bridge is a cable-stayed steel structure crossing the Seine River between Alfortville and Vitry-sur-Seine. The span extends approximately 250 meters, with diagonal cables running from tall towers to support the roadway and pedestrian paths.
The bridge was designed following a competition held in 1912 and opened to traffic in 1928. Its construction addressed the growing need to connect the two expanding settlements on either side of the river.
The bridge connects two communities and shapes how people move between them in their daily routines. It has become a familiar part of the local landscape, woven into the pattern of how this area functions.
The bridge provides two traffic lanes and separate paths for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the structure. The best way to experience it up close is on foot or by bicycle, which allows you to notice the design details.
The structure uses a specialized suspension system with diagonal stays instead of main parabolic cables, which significantly reduces the material required. This clever approach was innovative for its era and demonstrated fresh possibilities in bridge design.
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