Poggettone and Pecora Vecchia Bridge
Poggettone and Pecora Vecchia Bridge
Viadotto Poggettone e Pecora Vecchia
San Giacomo, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
(246) feet high / (75) meters high
(180) foot span / (55) meter span
1960
When the first sections of the A1 motorway were completed in 1960, several giant concrete arches along the mountainous route became symbolic of a new era of Italian engineering. No structure on this route was probably more representative of this modern era of concrete creativity then the Poggettone and Pecora Vecchia Bridge.
Curving high above a forested slope, the dynamic design consists of several tall arches each composed of six ribs that extend down into a grill-shaped series of piers. Each arch rib is composed of seven polygon-shaped beams.
Just to the north and south on the A1 motorway are more traditional concrete arch bridges with curving ribs including Gambellato, Merizzano, Biscione and Aglio bridges.
The A1 Autostrada del Sole was the first major motorway to be built in Italy and is still the longest at 754 kilometers. The European route has also been designated the E35 and E45.
Poggettone and Pecora Vecchia Bridge satellite image.
Poggettone and Pecora Vecchia Bridge location map.
