Arouca 516 is one of the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridges, located in the municipality of Arouca, in the North Region and the Aveiro District of Portugal. The bridge has a length of 516 m (1,693 ft).[1] It is suspended 175 m (574 ft) above the Paiva River, which it spans.[2] Its name is a reference to its extension in meters and the municipality where it is located.[3]
Arouca 516 516 Arouca | |
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| Coordinates | 40°57′51.84″N 8°10′31.12″W / 40.9644000°N 8.1753111°W |
| Carries | Walkway |
| Crosses | Paiva River |
| Locale | Arouca, Aveiro District, Portugal |
| Website | 516arouca |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 516 m (1,693 ft) |
| Width | 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) |
| Height | 176 m (577 ft) |
| No. of lanes | 1 |
| History | |
| Contracted lead designer | Itecons |
| Constructed by | Conduril - Engenharia SA |
| Construction start | July 2020 |
| Opened | 29 April 2021 |
| Inaugurated | 2 May 2021 |
| Location | |
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Its length exceeds by 16 m (52 ft) the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland, opened on 29 July 2017, by about 500 m (1,600 ft).[4]
Construction of the bridge started in May 2018.[2] It opened on 29 April 2021 to residents of the municipality and on 2 May to the general public, with prior purchase of tickets online.[5] Access to the bridge is possible either from Canelas or Alvarenga and a guide always accompanies visitor groups.[6] The first person to cross the bridge was Hugo Xavier.[7]
The bridge was designed by the Portuguese research institution Itecons[8] and constructed by Conduril Engenharia, S.A.,[2] at a cost of approximately €2.3 million.[9]