Infrastructure

Viaduct over the river Nela

This is one of the many bridges that were built as part of the ambitious project for the Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line, designed to link the ports of Santander and Valencia.

The purpose of this structure was to allow the train to cross the Nela riverbed, an important tributary that rises in the mountains of Somo in the Merindad de Valdeporres and flows into the river Ebro near Trespaderne.

Along the route of this railway, more than a dozen tunnels and more than forty bridges were built, all of them of metal structure, which provided service during the more than fifty years that the line was in operation.

The project was conceived at the end of the 19th century, but came to fruition in 1920 when the State Government took over the preliminary studies. The line opened between 1927 and 1930, although the connection with Santander never took place, despite the construction of the La Engaña tunnel that crossed the Cantabrian mountain range. In addition, it underwent shut downs and abandonment, and finally closed in 1985.

During the rehabilitation of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line as a Nature Trail, the old metallic railway bridges, which were in different states of conservation, have been rehabilitated and commissioned. This bridge in particular is 45 m long.

The restoration process aimed to ensure its use by pedestrians and cyclists. Once the original structure was restored, auxiliary structures, new metal railings and a wooden deck were installed to adapt the bridge to its new use.

Otros puntos de interés

• Bilbao - La Robla mining railway
• Old Dosante - Cidad station
• Cidad Tunnel
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Puentedey tunnel
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Old Brizuela station
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Old Escaño halt
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Old Horna-Villarcayo Station
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Old Medina de Pomar station