Niterói Bridge

Niterói Bridge

Introduction

The Niterói Bridge was constructed in 1968 and opened to traffic in 1974. It is the longest bridge over the sea in South America. With a total length of 13.7 kilometers, it features dual carriageways, each 26.4 meters wide. On the other side of the bridge lies the city of Niterói, and crossing it offers views of the scenery of Rio de Janeiro.

The Niterói Bridge connects Rio de Janeiro and Niterói. It is the longest prestressed concrete bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, the sixth longest bridge in the world, and the longest bridge over the sea in South America. Construction of the Niterói Bridge began in 1968 and it opened to traffic in 1974. The bridge is 13,290 meters long and 72 meters wide, featuring dual carriageways.

The Niterói Bridge uses the now-popular box girder design. This is because box girders have strong structural integrity, allowing for very wide bridge decks, as well as excellent wind resistance, enabling lateral winds to flow smoothly across the structure and preventing wind-induced vibration damage. The bridge stretches like a rainbow across Guanabara Bay. From the air, the Niterói Bridge resembles a winding dragon, displaying its graceful form above Guanabara Bay. Within its elegant silhouette lies a majestic presence, making it a popular tourist attraction in Brazil. The bridge accommodates more than 140,000 vehicles and pedestrians daily, providing convenient transportation for residents of both Rio de Janeiro and Niterói.