Seville’s Iconic Bridges: Structural Assessment and Climate Proofing

Seville City Planning Department has awarded Ayesa the contract, to upgrade and climate proof, twelve of the city’s landmark bridges

The project will be complex – integrating structural, functional, aesthetic, social, historical, and architectural elements.

Bridges are integral to the landscapes of both rural and urban areas, and in a city as historic as Seville, they play a key role in shaping its identity. Seville is home to several notable bridges, including the Cristo de la Expiración Bridge (commonly known as Puente del Cachorro), La Barqueta Bridge, Isabel II Bridge, and Triana Bridge.

Ayesa, having contributed to many of these iconic structures, has now been entrusted with their inspection and rehabilitation. The project includes installing shading structures and climate-resilient features to help these bridges endure Seville’s intense summer heat.

The project, commissioned by Seville’s City Planning Department integrates structural, functional, aesthetic, social, historical, and architectural scopes. A key challenge for Ayesa will be managing the unique constraints posed by some of the bridges located in Seville’s historic center, which hold significant symbolic and cultural value.

Ayesa will apply its full range of expertise, advanced technology, and professionals to deliver an optimal solution for Seville’s residents. The goal of Seville City Hall is to enhance the bridges for pedestrians by providing protection from both the sun and rain.

The contract, worth EUR 600,000, is divided into two phases. The first phase includes bridges spanning the Canal de Alfonso XIII, such as Los Remedios Bridge, San Telmo Bridge, Isabel II Bridge, Cristo de la Expiración Bridge, La Cartuja Bridge, and La Barqueta Bridge. The second phase focuses on those which intersect with the city’s railway, including Pasarela de la Calzada, and bridges on Avenida José Laguillo, Calle Samaniego, Avenida Alcalde Manuel del Valle, Carretera de Carmona, and Ronda Urbana Norte.

The first step will be to evaluate the structures. Inspection work will be carried out by specialist teams and, where necessary, drones, aerial work platforms, access platforms, barges and even underwater equipment will be used. Also, during this phase, calculation models will be developed using specialist software to determine the conditions of the bridges and the appropriate remediation and climate-proofing.

Luis Frías, Head of the Structures Section at Ayesa, explains: ‘The project is particularly unique in terms of its scope and location. As such, we will be working on some of the city’s most iconic bridges, modernising them to improve the experience of pedestrians’.

The company has extensive experience in this area and has participated in various projects involving the same bridges. For example, it designed and supervised the construction of Cristo de la Expiración Bridge, planned and oversaw repair work on San Telmo Bridge, and created a maintenance plan for La Cartuja Bridge and La Barqueta Bridge.

It is currently providing design and inspection services for masonry and concrete bridges on Adif’s central and southern rail network.