New bridge in Alcántara, Cáceres
The project involves the construction of a bypass on the regional road EX‑117, including a new bridge over the Tagus River within the municipality of Alcántara, in the province of Cáceres. The main objective is to improve mobility and road safety in the area by preventing vehicle traffic from continuing to use the iconic Roman Bridge of Alcántara, a nationally recognized historic monument. With the commissioning of the new bridge, road traffic will be efficiently redirected, eliminating the risks associated with vehicular use of the Roman bridge and contributing to the preservation of this valuable heritage asset, which will be reserved exclusively for pedestrian use.
The alignment of the infrastructure consists of three sections—two straight stretches and an intermediate curve—with a total length of 705 meters. The structure crossing the Tagus River is particularly notable, with a length of 409.5 meters, divided into three clearly differentiated parts. The first section, 267 meters long, runs تقریب parallel to the Roman bridge and includes a large central arch spanning the main river channel, along with several side spans: four on the left bank and one on the right. This section accommodates both road traffic and pedestrians, the latter via an attached walkway. The second section consists of lateral retaining walls acting as abutments for the first and third sections, allowing the connection between the new alignment and the existing road. Finally, the third section, known as the approach viaduct, runs parallel to the current road and crosses a natural valley leading to the Tagus, with a length of 108 meters.
For the execution of the project, CORTEN steel has been selected as the main material, with a volume exceeding 2 million kilograms, representing more than 40% of the construction budget. The color and typology of this material blend harmoniously with the natural environment along the riverbanks, respecting the visual landscape dominated by the Roman bridge. Its aesthetic elegance also contrasts with the concrete of the nearby Alcántara dam, enhancing a unique setting where, within less than one kilometer, three remarkable infrastructures coexist. The project, promoted by the Regional Government of Extremadura, has been under construction since 2022 by the joint venture formed by ROVER Infraestructuras S.A., SENPA, and PLACONSA.
