Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge |
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Aerial view of Cable-stayed bridge Naranjito
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| Coordinates | 18°19′28″N 66°12′31″W / 18.324315°N 66.208656°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes for PR-5 |
| Crosses | Rio La Plata |
| Locale | Naranjito, Puerto Rico |
| Official name | Puente Atirantado Jesús Izcoa Moure |
| Other name(s) | Puente Colgante, Puente La Plata |
| Maintained by | Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Total length | 703m (2306 ft.) |
| Width | 29.20m (95.8 ft.) |
| History | |
| Opened | September 17, 2008 by Aníbal Acevedo Vilá (Gov.) |
The Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge is a special type of bridge called a Cable-stayed bridge. It connects the towns of Toa Alta and Naranjito in Puerto Rico. This important bridge is part of Puerto Rico Highway 5.
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Why is it called Jesús Izcoa Moure?
The bridge is named after Jesús Izcoa Moure. He was the very first state legislator from Naranjito. His signature is even on the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which is like the main rulebook for Puerto Rico.
Connecting Communities
This bridge crosses the Rio La Plata (La Plata River) between the two towns. It helps more than 80,000 people in Puerto Rico travel easily. This bridge is extra special because it was the first cable-stayed bridge ever built in Puerto Rico and the entire Caribbean region!
Built to Last: Earthquake Safety
Puerto Rico can have earthquakes, so the bridge was built to be very strong. Engineers designed it to handle earthquakes safely. The main parts of the bridge were made to stay strong even during a big earthquake.
Building the Bridge
The total cost to build the bridge was about $31 million. This money came from both local and federal funds. The bridge, including its connecting parts, is 703 meters (about 2,306 feet) long.
How it's Designed
The main part of the bridge is held up by two tall, hollow towers shaped like diamonds. These towers support 96 strong cables. These cables hold up a section of the bridge that is 315 meters long. The longest single part of the bridge, which goes over the La Plata River, is 157.5 meters long.
Opening Day
The bridge officially opened on October 24, 2008. The governor at the time, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, led the opening ceremony. A few days after it opened, a 10K marathon race called "Carrera 10K del Chango sobre el Puente Atirantado" was held on the bridge. All the money raised from this race helped families in Naranjito.
Current Use of the Bridge
Right now, the bridge is used for two lanes of traffic. This helps to reduce stress on the cable system. There were some small bumps on the concrete surface from when it was built. These bumps can be fixed in the future.
Who Designed and Built It?
The Jesús Izcoa Moure Bridge was designed by two companies working together: CSA and HNTB. Another company, Edwards and Kelcey, checked the construction work. The special cable system was provided by Dywidag Systems International.
Local Workers and Learning
Many local workers helped build the bridge. About 80% of the people who worked on it were from Naranjito, Barranquitas, and Bayamon. The bridge also became a great place for young engineers to learn. Many engineering students from local universities visited the site to see how such a big project was built.
Images for kids
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Bridge detail
See also
In Spanish: Puente Jesús Izcoa Moure para niños
