Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge

The Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte Rainha Santa Isabel) is a cable-stayed bridge with semi-fan system completed in 2003 and opened in 2004, crossing the Mondego River.[1] Although it had an initial estimated value of €38.65 million, it severely surpassed that to €59.3 million.[2]

Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge
Rainha Santa Isabel Bridge
Coordinates	40°11′33″N 8°25′25″W
Carries	N17
Crosses	Mondego River
Locale	Coimbra, Portugal
Official name	Ponte de Santa Isabel de Aragão, Rainha de Portugal
Other name(s)	Ponte Europa (Europe Bridge)
Maintained by	Estradas de Portugal
Characteristics
Design	Cable-stayed bridge with semi-fan system
Total length	329.4 m (1,080 ft)
Width	30 m (98 ft)
Longest span	186.5 m (611 ft)
History
Designer	António José Luís dos Reis
Constructed by	Bureau d'études Greisch
Construction start	1990
Construction end	2003
Construction cost	€ 59,300,000
Opened	2004
Inaugurated	May 2004
Location

The construction of this bridge permitted a quicker access to the south of the city of Coimbra, namely to Pólo II section of the University of Coimbra. It carries N17 but connects to IC2. Construction was interrupted in October 2002 due to "alleged threat of collapse"[3] During its construction it was known as Ponte Europa (Europe Bridge) which still holds as an alternate name, although not official.