View of the bridge

The bridge over the Douro came about as the result of a competition held by the Royal Portuguese Railroad Company. The task was a demanding one: the river was fast-flowing, up to 20 m deep, and had a bed formed of a deep layer of gravel which made the construction of piers on the river bed impossible, and so the bridge had to have a central span of 160 m. This was greater than the longest arch span which had been built at the time.

Eiffel’s proposal was for a bridge whose deck was supported by five iron piers, with the abutments of the pair on the river bank also bearing a central supporting arch. Since Eiffel’s company was less experienced than its rivals, the Portuguese authorities appointed a committee to report on Eiffel et Cie’s suitability. Their report was favourable, and Eiffel got the job.

On-site work began in January 1876 and was complete by the end of October 1877: the bridge was ceremonially opened by King Lu�s I and Queen Maria Pia, after whom the bridge was named, on 4 November.