Ponte de São João, Railway bridge in Bonfim, Portugal.
The concrete Ponte de São João stretches 1029 meters across the Douro River, connecting Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia through a continuous multiple portico design.
Engineer Edgar Cardoso designed this railway bridge in the late 20th century to replace the Maria Pia Bridge, completing construction and opening it in 1991.
The bridge represents a shift in Portuguese engineering practices, introducing reinforced concrete construction methods instead of traditional iron arch designs for major railway crossings.
The bridge carries the Linha do Norte railway line between Porto and Lisbon, accommodating both passenger and freight train services throughout the day.
The interior of the bridge features a double cell coffin beam with a trapezoidal section, which visitors can explore during scheduled guided tours.
Location: Bonfim
Location: Oliveira do Douro
Inception: June 24, 1991
Architects: Edgar Cardoso
Height: 66 m
Length: 1,029 m
Operator: Infraestruturas de Portugal, S.A.
Address: 4430-999 Porto, Portugal
GPS coordinates: 41.13889,-8.59528
Latest update: July 3, 2025 13:21
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