Project Description:

The only road access bridge to Mendaro crosses the Deba River and the railway line.

Originally built about 50 years ago, the structure had narrow sidewalks unsuitable for pedestrians and lacked an adequate containment system against potential impacts. The recent work has equipped the bridge with suitable pedestrian space by adding independent steel beams on each edge from which 2- meter-wide decks extend.

Judges Comments

This elegant intervention has transformed a constrained vehicular crossing into a safer, more accessible public space. Using sculptural corten steel beams, the design adds independent cantilevered walkways to each side of the bridge, improving pedestrian access while preserving the integrity of the original structure. Executed under complex site constraints, including railway protection and continuous traffic flow, the project exemplifies how architectural clarity and engineering precision can elevate modest infrastructure into a civic asset.

Structural Designer

ANTA IC

Location

Mendaro, Spain