Infrastructure

Viaduct over the river Nela

Puentedey is a charming Spanish village located in the province of Burgos and is recognised as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain.

It is located in the middle course of the river Nela, where the riverbed leaves the narrower sections behind and begins to flow more gently.

In this beautiful town, it is necessary to cross a small 32-metre viaduct. This infrastructure is part of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea line, designed to link the ports of Santander and Valencia. The railway was in operation for more than fifty years from Cidad-Dosante in Burgos to Calatayud, where it connected with the Ferrocarril Central de Aragón (Aragon Central Railway). The project originated at the end of the 19th century, but did not come to fruition until 1920, when the State Government took up a previous study. The line was opened to the public 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, the line underwent shut downs and abandonment, and finally closed in 1985.

Along the route, more than a dozen tunnels and more than forty bridges were built, all of them of metal structure. This is one of those bridges whose former purpose was to help the train to cross the Nela riverbed. It is an important watercourse that starts in the mountains of Somo in the Merindad de Valdeporres and flows, after more than 75 km, into the river Ebro, near the town of Trespaderne. With a river basin surface area of 1,081.20 km² and an average flow of 16.70 m³/s, it is the main river collector in Las Merindades.

During the rehabilitation of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line in a Nature Trail, the old metallic railway bridges, which were in different states of conservation, have been rehabilitated and commissioned.

This infrastructure ensures safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists. Once the original infrastructure had been restored, auxiliary structures, new metal railings and a wooden deck were installed to adapt the bridge to its new use.

Next to this bridge is the Puentedey rest area, in which users of the trail can stop to rest and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the town, where the palace house of the Brizuela family undoubtedly stands out. It was built over the natural bridge by the local Fernández de Brizuela family, and later belonged to the Porres and Velasco families, with two square towers from the 15th century.

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
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Puentedey tunnel
• 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