Freixo Bridge, Road bridge in Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
The Freixo Bridge is a road bridge that spans the Douro River, connecting the Campanhã district in Porto to Oliveira do Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. It consists of eight spans that allow continuous traffic flow between the two river banks.
Construction of the bridge began in the early 1990s and reached completion in 1995. It was built to provide an additional crossing point over the Douro and help distribute traffic more evenly across existing structures.
The bridge takes its name from the ash trees that once lined the riverbanks in this area. This connection to the natural environment remains part of how locals identify with the spaces on both sides of the crossing.
The design and placement allow vehicles to travel on a relatively level path directly between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Using this crossing is straightforward for anyone moving between the two districts, especially when other bridges appear congested.
Architect António José Luís dos Reis designed the eight-span structure specifically to relieve pressure on two older bridges that handled most of the traffic. This made it a key solution to the city's congestion problems.
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