Puente hierro, Metal bridge in San Fernando, province of Cádiz, Spain
Puente Hierro is a metal bridge in San Fernando, in the province of Cádiz, spanning the Caño de Sancti Petri and linking the Cádiz area with San Fernando. It is built with iron and reinforced concrete and features a Pratt truss system that carries the load across the full span.
The bridge was built in 1926 to allow the Seville to Cádiz railway line to cross the Caño de Sancti Petri. It was designed by engineer Eduardo Torroja, who used a floating caisson foundation method that was considered pioneering at the time and is still studied in engineering courses.
The bridge is also known locally as the Puente de Sancti Petri or the Puente de La Carraca, names tied to the surrounding area with its long agricultural and military past. Crossing it, you can see the Arsenal de La Carraca complex in the distance, a naval facility that has shaped this part of the bay for centuries.
The bridge is open at all hours and can be explored comfortably on foot or by bike. Those visiting the area should allow a little extra time to take in the views over the Caño from the bridge, which are clearest on calm days.
One of the bridge's truss spans was originally designed to be movable, so that small submarines could pass through. After construction was finished, the decision was made to keep all spans fixed, so that feature was never actually used.
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