Source: ponte516arouca.com

Are You Brave Enough to Tackle the World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge?

Not for the faint-hearted, Portugal’s newly opened 516 Arouca Bridge aims to attract engineering enthusiasts, nature lovers, and of course those who enjoy an adrenaline rush.

516 Arouca Bridge: not for those with vertigo

There are pedestrian bridges, and there’s 516 Arouca Bridge—the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Located in Arouca, in the Aveiro district near Porto, Portugal, and spanning 516 meters in length and an elevation of 175 meters, it connects the banks of Paiva River. As you walk along the bridge, you get a breathtaking view over Garganta do Paiva and Cascata das Aguieiras, both geosites of the UNESCO Arouca Geopark territory. 516 Arouca Bridge is located next to the famous Paiva Walkways.

This combines elements of a pure Tibet-style footbridge with no towers and a sagging deck with a more conventional tower supported span with a flat deck. The project began in 2016 and construction started in 2017, but was delayed because there was a need to change the location of the bridge due to deployment difficulties and unforeseen geological problems. Construction finished in July.
Designed by Itecons and constructed by Conduril – Engenharia, SA, the bridge is supported by two V-shaped concrete towers and has a unique design. This combines elements of a pure Tibet-style footbridge with no towers and a sagging deck with a more conventional tower supported span with a flat deck. The project began in 2016 and construction started in 2017, but was delayed because there was a need to change the location of the bridge due to deployment difficulties and unforeseen geological problems. Construction finished in July. Source: ponte516arouca.com
Arouca 516—because it’s 516 meters long and is in the town of Arouca, an hour south of Porto—will connect Aguieiras Waterfall and Paiva Gorge and is the latest adventure offering in the Arouca Geopark, known for its extreme sports.
The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge opened in Portugal this month. Arouca 516—because it’s 516 meters long and is in the town of Arouca, an hour south of Porto—will connect Aguieiras Waterfall and Paiva Gorge and is the latest adventure offering in the Arouca Geopark, known for its extreme sports. Source: Ponte516arouca.com
It’s a Tibetan-style hanging bridge, held up by steel cables and two huge V-shaped towers.
The River Paiva flows 175 m (576 ft) below the pathway’s metre-wide (3ft) open metal grid. It’s a Tibetan-style hanging bridge, held up by steel cables and two huge V-shaped towers. Source: ponte516arouca.com
The bridge connects the escarpment of the Aguieiras waterfall and the area of the Paiva Gorge, two of the 41 geosites of the Arouca Geopark.
The 516m-long bridge is suspended 175m above the river in Arouca Unesco Global Geopark just outside Porto, and its length makes it the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. The bridge connects the escarpment of the Aguieiras waterfall and the area of the Paiva Gorge, two of the 41 geosites of the Arouca Geopark. Source: ponte516arouca.com
Designed by Portuguese studio Itecons, it took three years to build, with construction completed in July 2020. It’s in the eastern part of the Geopark, close to Paiva Walkways, Areinho and Vau river beaches, and the villages of Alvarenga, Canelas, and Espiunca.
The railings are rigid netting, while the deck is constructed of 127 four-meter long modules. Designed by Portuguese studio Itecons, it took three years to build, with construction completed in July 2020.
It’s in the eastern part of the Geopark, close to Paiva Walkways, Areinho and Vau river beaches, and the villages of Alvarenga, Canelas, and Espiunca. Source: ponte516arouca.com
said the local council, Arouca Municipality, in a statement.
“This bridge aims at targeting the interest of different types of people: engineering lovers, nature connoisseurs, people who are fond of extreme experiences,” said the local council, Arouca Municipality, in a statement. Source: ponte516arouca.com
That bridge boasts views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, and Bernese Alps.
Arouca 516 has stolen the longest pedestrian suspension bridge title from the Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland, which spans 1,621 feet and opened in 2017. That bridge boasts views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn, and Bernese Alps. Source: ponte516arouca.com
If you like that sort of thing.
An open metal grid floor that allows those crossing it to see the Rio Paiva river beneath. If you like that sort of thing. Source: ponte516arouca.com
516 Arouca Bridge is located in Arouca, next to the famous Paiva Walkways. Delight yourself with our photo gallery and book now!
As you walk along the bridge, you will have an unobstructed view over Garganta do Paiva and Cascata das Aguieiras, both geosites of the UNESCO Arouca Geopark territory. 516 Arouca Bridge is located in Arouca, next to the famous Paiva Walkways. Delight yourself with our photo gallery and book now! Source: ponte516arouca.com

Source: YouTube/Município de Arouca
Itecons | Ponte Pedonal Suspensa - Arouca 516Source: YouTube/Itecons

HOW TO BUILD A SUSPENSION BRIDGE MODEL (AGE: MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP)

In this project, you'll be creating a suspension bridge. Through building this model, you'll understand the principles of force distribution and how engineers use cables to accomplish this in suspension bridges.

Support Now