The Eiffel Bridge in Viana do Castelo

Abstract

In the last quarter of the nineteenth century the most common structural typology in Portugal for the construction of railway bridges was the use of continuous truss girders, with several spans supported by masonry pillars and abutments. Some of these works correspond to double decks for railway and roadway traffic, such as the Viana do Castelo Bridge over the Lima River, built by Eiffel et Cie. and completed in 1878. This work presents the most important characteristics of this bridge and describes the most significant rehabilitation and retrofitting works that had been performed during its long service life.