Infrastructure

Viaduct over the river Nela

Along the route of the Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line, more than a dozen tunnels and more than forty bridges were built, all of them of metal structure. The purpose of these infrastructures was to help the train to cross different orographic features.

In the case of this viaduct, its purpose is twofold, as it allows hikers and cyclists to cross the BU-561 road and 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.

This infrastructure is 51 m long. The restoration process aimed to ensure its use by 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.

The Santander-Mediterranean Sea railway line, designed to link the ports of Santander and Valencia, 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.

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.

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
• 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
• Old Horna-Villarcayo Station
• Viaduct over the river Nela
• Old Medina de Pomar station