Sant Boi Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sant Boi Bridge over Llobregat River |
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Bridge view
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| Coordinates | 41°20′59″N 2°03′14″E / 41.3497°N 2.0540°E |
| Carries | High Speed Railway |
| Crosses | Llobregat River, highway, road and railway. |
| Locale | Sant Boi de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain |
| Owner | ADIF |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 2,854 feet (870 m) |
| Height | 39 feet (12 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Pedelta Structural Engineers |
| Construction end | 2006 |
| Opened | 2006 |
The Sant Boi Bridge is a special bridge in Catalonia, Spain. It's part of the high-speed railway line connecting Madrid and Barcelona. This bridge was the very first steel structure built for this important train route.
The bridge is about 2,854-foot-long (870 m). It is also very close to the Barcelona airport. This amazing structure helps high-speed trains cross over many things. It goes over a highway, a regular road, and another railway line. The bridge is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city of Barcelona.
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What Makes the Sant Boi Bridge Special?
The Sant Boi Bridge is designed to be both useful and beautiful. It fits well into the area around it. This bridge is similar to another one called the Llinars Bridge. However, the Sant Boi Bridge has a different shape and design.
The bridge is made of two main parts:
- One part uses a mix of concrete and steel. This section is about 340 meters (1,115 feet) long.
- The other part uses strong concrete that has been "prestressed." This means it has been made extra strong. This section is about 530 meters (1,738 feet) long.
Because the bridge is near Sants station, trains slow down when they cross it. The fastest speed allowed on the bridge is 150 kilometers per hour (93 miles per hour).
Building the Sant Boi Bridge
The steel part of the bridge was built using a special method called the "launching method." Imagine building a long structure on one side and then slowly pushing it into place. That's how they did it!
The bridge's deck, where the train tracks are, is made of steel and concrete. It has strong steel beams that are 1 meter (3 feet) deep. These beams are spaced about 3 meters (9 feet) apart. The whole structure is held up by tall steel towers, about 11.5 meters (37 feet) high.
The second part of the bridge, which crosses the Llobregat River, is made of concrete. This section is 530 meters (1,738 feet) long. It was built using a common method where concrete is poured into molds right at the site.
The Sant Boi Bridge was the first steel bridge built for the high-speed railway line between Madrid and Barcelona. Bridges for high-speed trains are very complex. They must be super strong and stable to handle fast-moving trains.
Bridge Color Change
When the bridge was first planned, it was going to be red. But the company in charge, ADIF, decided to change the color to green. They wanted the bridge to blend in better with the natural environment around it.
See also
In Spanish: Viaducto de San Baudilio de Llobregat para niños
