The first bridge visible is the Ponte Dom Luis or Luis I Bridge which carries the Metro railway line, a metal arch bridge built between 1881 and 1886. At the time of construction its span of 172 metres was the longest of its type in the world. Téophile Seyrig had co-engineered the Maria Pia Bridge project nearby (see below) while working as a partner of Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame) and now took sole responsibility for the new bridge. Its total length is 382 metres
Next along is the Ponte do Infante road bridge.
In the distance is the Ponte de São João (St John bridge) completed in 1991, designed by engineer Edgar Cardoso. This replaced the previous Ponte Maria Pia, commonly known as Ponte Dona Maria, a railway bridge built in 1877 by Gustave Eiffel. Built of wrought iron, its two-hinged crescent arch used to carry the railway to Lisbon for 353 metres across the river at a height of 60 metres. At the time of construction its span of 160 metres was the longest arch bridge in the world. It was opened by the king of Portugal and named after his queen Maria Pia.
Photo taken in May 2007.
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