Praga Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Praga BridgePuente de Praga |
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| Coordinates | 40°23′42″N 3°42′17″W / 40.39500°N 3.70472°W |
| Crosses | Manzanares |
| Locale | Madrid, Spain |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Beam bridge |
| Longest span | 45 m |
| History | |
| Opened | 11 October 1968 |
The Praga Bridge (in Spanish: Puente de Praga) is a well-known bridge in Madrid, Spain. It crosses over the Manzanares River. This bridge is a key part of a major road called the Paseo de Santa María de la Cabeza. This road eventually becomes the A-42 motorway, which goes south from Madrid towards the city of Toledo. The bridge is named after the city of Prague.
Contents
The Praga Bridge: A Story of Three Bridges
The Praga Bridge has an interesting history. It's actually the third bridge built in this spot!
The First Bridge: A Cattle Crossing
The very first bridge was built around 1925. It was mainly used to move cattle (cows and other farm animals) to a nearby slaughterhouse. Because of this, people often called it the "Slaughterhouse Bridge" (puente del Matadero).
In 1932, the Madrid City Council decided to give it a proper name. They chose to name it after the city of Prague (Praga in Spanish).
The Second Bridge: A Short Life
Building work for a new bridge began in the 1940s. This was meant to be the second bridge in this location. When it was time to open it, officials wanted to name it "Heroes of Alcázar de Toledo Bridge." However, most people still called it the Praga Bridge, just like the old one.
This second bridge opened in the summer of 1952. But there were problems with how it was built. The foundations were not strong enough, and the materials used were not very good. Because of these issues, the authorities decided in 1964 that the bridge needed to be torn down. A brand new bridge would take its place.
The Third Bridge: Built to Last
The second bridge was slowly taken apart as the third and current bridge was being built. The formal opening of this third version of the Praga Bridge happened on October 11, 1968.
This new bridge was made using a special type of concrete called prestressed concrete. This means the concrete has steel cables inside that are stretched tightly. This makes the concrete much stronger and more durable. The bridge has four straight sections. Each section has a main span (the distance between its supports) of about 45 meters. The top part of the bridge, where cars drive, is supported by eight strong beams running along its length. These beams are also connected by crossbeams, making the structure very stable.
Official Name Change
Even after the third bridge was built, almost everyone continued to call it the Praga Bridge. The official name, "Heroes of Alcázar de Toledo Bridge," was rarely used. The name "Praga" was even on city maps and in guidebooks!
So, in 2009, the bridge was officially renamed Puente de Praga. This made its official name match what everyone already called it.
See also
In Spanish: Puente de Praga para niños
