General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge

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General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge
Tablazo Strait
Locale	Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela[1]
Characteristics
Design	Cable-stayed bridge[1]
Material	Reinforced concrete[1]
Total length	8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi)[1]
Height	86.6 metres (284 ft)[1]
Longest span	235 metres (771 ft) x 5
No. of spans	135
History
Designer	Riccardo Morandi
Construction start	1958[1]
Construction end	1962[1]
Construction cost	Bs. 350 million[2]
Location

The General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge is located at the Tablazo Strait outlet of

Made of reinforced and prestressed concrete, the cable-stayed bridge spans 8.678 kilometres (5.392 mi) from shore to shore. The five main spans are each 235 metres (771 ft) long.^[3] They are supported from 92-metre (302 ft) tall towers, and provide 46 metres (151 ft) of clearance to the water below.^[4] The bridge carries only vehicles.

The competition to design the bridge started in 1957 and was won by

According to eminent bridge engineer Michel Virlogeux:^[3]

the Lake Maracaibo Bridge deserves to be part of the series of the most famous bridges over the world, with the

Garabit Viaduct

.

History

It was opened on 24 August 1962 by the then-president of Venezuela

In April 1964, parts of the bridge collapsed after a collision with the

See also

• List of bridges by length

References

• Dupré, Judith: "Bridges", Könemann, 1998,
  ISBN 3-8290-0408-7
• Virlogeux, Michel: "Bridges with Multiple Cable Stayed Spans", Structural Engineering International, 1/2001

External links

• General Rafael Urdaneta Website in spanish
• Second Lake Maracaibo Bridge at Structurae
• Info on Maracaibo including the bridge
• Esso Maracaibo website
• https://www.venezuelatuya.com/occidente/puenterafaelurdanetaeng.htm