The Rande Bridge, World’s Second Best bridge

The Rande Bridge is the world’s second best bridge, just behind Mersey Gateway Bridge (Liverpool, UK). Is ranked World’s Second best bridge by the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE). The IABSE Outstanding Structure Award (OStrA) was established in 1998. It is one of the highest distinctions awarded by IABSE and recognises, in different regions of the world, some of the most remarkable, innovative, creative, or otherwise stimulating structures.

The Rande Bridge is one of the emblems of the city of Vigo and our estuary. It was opened in 1981, when the highway between Pontevedra and Vigo was completed, although the works were completed in 1977. It seems incredible that has only been there for 46 years, can you imagine flying over Vigo and not seeing Rande from the heights? Do you remember when it wasn’t there yet? Dop you remember the first time you crossed it?

Today, it is crossed by more than 50.000 vehicles, that’s why the enlargement was made imperative. Rande became ‘too litlle’. 

Around this time, there was always traffic jams between the beaches of O Morrazo and Vigo, and this expansion was designed to channel traffic and make it easier for everyone to enjoy the beaches on both sides of the estuary in summer.

If you want to see the enlargement process, masterpiece of engineering, this time-lapse video shows the development of the work over 30 months.

 

Do you want a closer look? Navigate between its pillars and explore this Vigo icon on a pleasant journey, in Charter Terranova we recommend our historic Vigo route, Tahar besides discovering Rande will take you to the island of San Simón, another gem of Vigo estuary. 

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Photo: Vía @vill.photo

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