Viana do Castelo Foot and Cycle Bridge

Knight Architects won an international competition for the design of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge across the River Lima, connecting Viana do Castelo’s centre to the Ecovia Litoral Norte near Praia da Barra. Located south of the historic Eiffel Bridge, a 1878 landmark known for its green double-deck truss structure, the new bridge is set to become one of Portugal’s most significant contemporary structures due to its scale, visibility, and site sensitivity.

Our proposal features an S-shaped alignment positioned parallel to the Eiffel Bridge on the Viana do Castelo side, slowly moving away from the historic structure, thereby preserving sightlines whilst establishing its own distinct identity through references to local nautical heritage.

The 700m-long cable-stayed bridge has nine spans over the water, matching the pier arrangement of the Eiffel Bridge. Our solution also mirrors its neighbour's principle of large spans over water and smaller spans over land. Inclined pylons positioned alternately along the deck create slenderness, with the highest point of the masts aligning with the top level of the Eiffel Bridge deck. 

The new bridge delivers high quality urban design with significant active mobility provision through the generous 4m-wide deck and gentle ramps, boosting enjoyment of this beautiful landscape for all users.