Puente Los Carros, Pedestrian bridge in Santiago, Chile.
Puente Los Carros is a metal footbridge that spans the Mapocho River, linking the Vega Central market area with the Mercado Central district. The structure displays an early form of metal engineering with its distinctive truss framework.
The structure was built in 1889 as a double-track railway bridge with a pedestrian walkway included. It was later converted to serve foot traffic exclusively.
The bridge connects two major market districts and serves as a central hub where merchants and shoppers naturally move between them throughout the day. It reflects how the city's commerce has depended on these pedestrian routes for generations.
The crossing is easy to find during the day and offers a safe passage across the river for anyone moving between the two market areas. The best time to cross is early morning or late afternoon when crowds are lighter.
The bridge displays the Whipple truss design, an engineering technique that Chile adopted during its early years of modern infrastructure development. This particular design was relatively uncommon in South America at the time and made it a notable example of advanced technical knowledge.
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