Ponte metálica de Fão, Iron truss bridge in Fão, Portugal
The Ponte metálica de Fão is an iron truss bridge spanning approximately 268 meters across the Cávado River, supported by seven substantial pillars of granite and masonry. The structure uses a box girder system with twelve panels and was engineered so that foundations extend deep underground.
The structure was built between 1889 and 1892 by Empresa Industrial Portuguesa and was initially named Luis Filipe in honor of the crown prince of that time. The bridge represented a turning point in Portuguese engineering craftsmanship of the late 1800s.
The bridge holds recognition as cultural heritage of public interest and reflects Portugal's industrial construction methods of that era. This status demonstrates how the structure represents an important phase in the country's technological development.
The crossing runs along National Road 13 and connects the municipalities of Fão and Esposende as a key transportation route in the Braga region. Visitors can view the structure from both sides of the river, and the perspective from below is particularly rewarding.
The structure employs a specialized Brown box girder design with a distinctive geometric pattern reflecting the engineering methods of that era. The deep foundations of the pillars extend about 15 meters underground, which was a remarkable engineering solution for river crossings at the time.
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