Ponte de São João

Ponte de São João is a concrete railway bridge that spans approximately 1 km across the Douro River, linking Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The structure uses a continuous multi-span portal frame design to achieve its height of 66 meters above the water.

Engineer Edgar Cardoso designed this bridge in the late 20th century to replace the older Maria Pia Bridge. It opened in 1991 and marked a shift toward modern reinforced concrete design in Portuguese bridge engineering.

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 with passenger and freight trains throughout the day. Access is limited to train traffic, though pedestrians can explore the bridge structure during scheduled guided tours.

Visitors can explore the interior of the double-cell coffin beam with trapezoidal section during special guided tours. This particular construction technique allows the bridge to achieve its remarkable span while keeping the structure lightweight.

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: December 6, 2025 16:04