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Calatrava's Masterpiece Spans the River Turia & Pierces the Valencian Skyline becoming the City's Tallest Structure and Spain 's Longest Bridge
Added: (June 2009)
Valencia has yet again broken records with the successful launch of Santiago Calatrava's “L'Assut de D'Or” bridge which majestically straddles the river Turia and in so doing becoming the riverbeds 19 th bridge in all. The L'Assut de D'Or is now Spain 's longest bridge at 180 metres in length by 39 metres wide. Built at a cost of €34.4 million, the structure reaches to a height of 123 metres as it reaches into Valencia 's perennially blue skies.
At the opening ceremony, the city's mayoress Ms. Rita Barbera enthused about the city's latest piece of vanguardian architecture describing it as : “the lighthouse that indicates where modern Valencia is”. Mr. Calatrava equally satisfied with his latest work was generous in his praise of all the team that worked on the project.
The structure itself is principally composed of steel and reinforced concrete with the main mast inclined at an angle of 40 degrees and kept in place by no less than 29 parallel cables in a harp-like formation with an additional four cables to the rear of these acting as structural supports.
A projected 70,000 vehicles will use the bridge daily and the structure can support up to 5,500 tonnes. A novelty of the design with regard to lighting is the fact that there are no street lights on the bridge. The illumination comes from lights positioned at the base of the bridges parallel supports and on the mast itself so as not to take from the stunning visual effect that is the “City of the Sciences” by night.
There are 3 traffic lanes crossing the bridge in both directions as well as a pedestrian and cycle lane in the centre and space for the No. 2 Tram Line which is presently in construction to traverse the bridge also.
It is truly a spectacular structure best viewed in all its splendour at night. The City of the Sciences construction will all going well be finally completed in November with the opening of the “Agora ” which sits next to the L'Assut de D'Or and which will be used as an events centre hosting an A.T.P. Tennis tournament this year :
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Article by Dermot Quinn, Valencia Property Hound Ltd
