Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge
The Octavio Frias de Oliveira bridge, commonly known as "Ponte Estaiada", is a cable-stayed bridge in São Paulo, Brazil over the Pinheiros River, opened in May 2008. The bridge is 138 metres (453 ft) tall, and connects Marginal Pinheiros to Jornalista Roberto Marinho Avenue in the south area of the city. It is named after Octavio Frias de Oliveira.
Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge Ponte Octávio Frias de Oliveira | |
|---|---|
 Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge | |
| Coordinates | 23.61275°S 46.699239°W |
| Crosses | Pinheiros River |
| Locale | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Other name(s) | Ponte Estaiada |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge[1] |
| Material | Concrete sustained by stainless steel cables, coated with polyethylene resistant to sunlight |
| Total length | 1,600 metres (5,200 ft)[2] |
| Height | 138 metres (453 ft)[2] (tower) |
| History | |
| Construction start | 2005 |
| Construction end | May 2008 |
| Opened | 10 May 2008 |
| Location | |
Details
The bridge deck is unusual due to its form, which is similar to an "X", crossing at the tower. The "X" is 76 meters wide at its base and 35.4 meters wide at the top.
It is the only bridge in the world that has two curved tracks supported by a single concrete mast. The two curved tracks, one at an elevation of 12 meters and the other at an elevation of 24 meters, have approximate lengths of 900 meters each.
At the end of December, lights are put up on the cables and illuminated to create color effects like those on a Christmas tree. The bridge is also lit up on special occasions during the year and is often used for automobile advertisements on television.
The bridge has been attacked by vandals on several occasions. In 2011, thieves stole 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) of wire, worth R$200,000 (US$117,000).[3] Later in August, vandals broke in the bridge's control room and destroyed the panels.[3] On January 9, 2012, vandals stole 94 of the 142 searchlights of the bridge.[3] It will take 90 days and R$1,000,000 (around US$250,000) to completely re-establish the lighting system.[3]
References
- World's Weirdest and Most Amazing Bridges by Stephanie Valera (2016)
- Octávio Frias de Oliveira Bridge at Structurae
- Manso, Bruno Paes (21 January 2012). "Ladrões levam holofotes de R$ 1 mi da Ponte Estaiada" (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. Retrieved 21 January 2012.
External links
