Engineers and architects don’t usually think about building circular bridges, but this is what Rafael Vinoly, an architect from Uruguay did. This bridge, which spans the entirety of the Laguna Garzon in the country, was opened up to the public in 2016- and a large sector of the population has been wondering as to why such a structure was built in the first place itself. In sharp contrast to other bridges which are truly built for their aesthetics, this bridge actually needs to be circular- it has a purpose and need.
The creators of the circular bridge wanted to create a way that would slow down traffic which would force them to look out and further appreciate the environment around them. This non-traditional design was selected after multiple years of governmental debate. The bridge already has a radius of around 51.5 meters, which is further bracketed by two straight sections at the entrances that measure 46 meters. This design has allowed for two lanes of traffic, creating a lagoon in the very center that can be further used for fishing. The architect states, “The concept of the Puente Laguna Garzón was to transform a traditional vehicular crossing into an event that reduces the speed of the cars, to provide an opportunity to enjoy panoramic views to an amazing landscape, and at the same time create a pedestrian place in the center.”
Uruguay’s Circular Bridge Is A True Combination Of Beauty And Efficiency
The construction of the circular bridge was visualized in 2014, and the project came out to the public just a year after that. The entire roadway cost had an estimated sum of $11 million, with funding from private enterprises coming to around $10 million. Although, unlike a lot of the architectural projects, this one was needed. Before the construction of the bridges, cars that wished to cross between the counties of Rocha and Maldonado would have to load themselves onto a raft individually and then cross the water body. Since the construction of the bridge, close to 1000 cars have used the bridge every day- which increases the commuting speed.
The government in the country was previously hoping to bring in a new era for this country- where they focused more on sustainability and tourism. This is why they received an unprecedented 2.9 million tourists in 2015- which was a sharp increase from 2014. Through the construction of this circular bridge, officials seek to drive the locals and visitors to the undeveloped coastline of Rocha.
Circular bridges aren’t really rare- but they aren’t meant for road traffic. But contrarily, the Laguna Garzon bridge combines the aesthetics of a circular structure with the key functional aspects of the design.