Ponte Ernesto Dornelles, Road bridge in Bento Gonçalves and Veranópolis, Brazil.
Ponte Ernesto Dornelles crosses the Rio das Antas using two parallel concrete arches that need no support pillars in the riverbed, spanning approximately 288 meters in total length. The structure rises around 46 meters above the water and covers the distance between supports with a free span of roughly 186 meters.
Construction began in 1942 and was completed in 1952, representing a major leap in Brazilian infrastructure development. Its completion connected the two municipalities through a construction method that was modern for its time.
The bridge became a symbol of regional progress and appears on the official logo of Rio Grande do Sul's highway department, shaping how locals view their area's development. Its form is immediately recognizable to people from the region as a mark of achievement.
The bridge sits on federal highway BR-470 and connects Bento Gonçalves and Veranópolis with a wide, well-maintained roadway. Visitors can view it from their vehicle or try to spot it from the riverbank below if access points are available.
The structure ranks among the world's largest bridges with parallel suspended arches and was built in roughly 10 years, a remarkably fast timeline for such a project. This combination of scale and construction speed made it a benchmark for engineering excellence of its era.
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