Arenas Bridge

Last updated
Arenas Bridge
Arenas Bridge.jpg
Arenas Bridge in 1993
USA Puerto Rico location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Arenas Bridge
Location of the Arenas Bridge in Puerto Rico
LocationPR urban primary 735.svg PR-735, Cayey / Cidra, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 18°08′04″N66°08′17″W / 18.134325°N 66.138119°W / 18.134325; -66.138119
Arealess than one acre
Built1894
ArchitectSichar, Mariano; Nicrisse & Decluve, et al.
Architectural stylemetal truss
MPS Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico MPS
NRHP reference No. 95000843 [1]
RNSZH No.2000-(RCE)-21-JP-SH
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 19, 1995
Designated RNSZHDecember 21, 2000

The Arenas Bridge is a truss bridge built in 1894 between the municipalities of Cayey and Cidra in Puerto Rico. Also known as Puente Rio La Plata, it was the longest bridge constructed in Puerto Rico during the Spanish colonial period. It crosses the Rio de la Plata, the longest river in Puerto Rico. According to the U.S. National Park Service, "[t]his is the most important metal bridge in Puerto Rico from the period." [2] The bridge is still standing. [3]

Contents

History

The bridge was built as "part of the Carretera Central, the first highway across the central mountains of Puerto Rico." [2] The Carretera Central, a 134 kilometer highway between San Juan and the port of Ponce was largely completed by 1886, with temporary bridges in place at some crossings and 13 permanent bridges completed. [4] : E-7  The installation of the permanent Arenas Bridge in 1894 was near the completion of the Carretera in 1898. [4] : E-7 

Because of scarcity of iron in Puerto Rico, there were no metal fabricators in the country. Instead, bridges like this were fabricated overseas and shipped in parts to Puerto Rico. A Spanish government agent in Paris secured international bids, largely from French and Belgian firms, for bridges to be built in the overseas colonies of Spain. [4] : E-10  The Arenas Bridge itself was fabricated by Nicaise et Delcuve, a Belgian firm, and was shipped on the steamship Teutonia to Puerto Rico for assembly. [2]

An alternative to a truss bridge would have been a suspension bridge design, which was a well-developed technology for long spans before the Arenas Bridge was built. However, there were no truly long spans in Puerto Rico that would have absolutely required a suspension bridge in colonial times, as there are no particularly wide rivers or canyons, and chief engineer Manuel Sanchez-Nunez assessed that suspension bridges were unsuited to the tropical climate, even removing, a few years later, one that had been constructed in Caguas in 1857. [4] : E-5  As a result, suspension bridge technology was not widely employed in Puerto Rico. Even today it is believed that there are only a small number of suspension bridges in the commonwealth, one being a modern pedestrian bridge in Bayamon.[ citation needed ] Another one is located in Caguas. [5] [6] and yet another one, a vehicular one, is on the Bayamon-Naranjito border. [7]

The bridge was designed by Mariano Sichar. A steel truss bridge, it weighed 23,623 pounds and was contracted to be built for 56,221 pesos. Stone abutments to support the bridge were constructed under supervision of José Roque-Paniagua; engineer Julio Larrinaga oversaw assembly of the bridge. [2]

It brings what is now Puerto Rico Highway 735 over Rio de la Plata between Barrio Monte Llano and Barrio Arenas. [8] It is between the municipalities of Cayey and Cidra. [2]

In the Spanish–American War, American forces moved from south to north over the Carretara Central. Another Carretera bridge was demolished by the Spanish to delay the American advance, but not Arenas Bridge. [4] : E-12 

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caguas, Puerto Rico</span> City and municipality in Puerto Rico

Caguas is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, and east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey. Caguas was founded in 1775. The municipality had a population of 127,244 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cayey, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Cayey, officially Cayey de Muesas, is a mountain town and municipality in central Puerto Rico located on the Sierra de Cayey within the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo. Cayey is spread over 21 barrios plus Cayey Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cidra, Puerto Rico</span> Town and municipality in Puerto Rico

Cidra is a town and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central region of the island, north of Cayey; south of Comerío and Aguas Buenas; east of Aibonito and Barranquitas; and west of Caguas. Cidra is spread over 12 barrios and Cidra Pueblo. It is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 52</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 52 (PR-52), a major toll road in Puerto Rico, is also known as Autopista Luis A. Ferré. It was formerly called Expreso Las Américas. It runs from PR-1 in southwest Río Piedras and heads south until it intersects with highway PR-2 in Ponce. At its north end, the short PR-18 continues north from PR-52 towards San Juan. This short segment is known as Expreso Las Américas, the only segment of the route still unofficially bearing this name, since PR-18 is officially named Roberto Sánchez Vilella Expressway. The combined route of PR-18 and PR-52 runs concurrent with the unsigned Interstate Highway PRI-1. Toll stations are located in San Juan, Caguas, Salinas, Juana Díaz, and Ponce.

This is a list of properties and historic districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in Puerto Rico, not to be confused with the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones. There are more than 375 listings in Puerto Rico, with one or more listing in each of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Río de la Plata (Puerto Rico)</span> River of Puerto Rico

The La Plata River is the longest river in Puerto Rico. It is located in the north coast of the island. It flows from south to north, and drains into the Atlantic Ocean about 11 miles (18 km) west of San Juan. The mouth of the river is a resort area with white sandy beaches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 1</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 1 (PR-1) is a highway in Puerto Rico that connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road heads east and follows a somewhat parallel route along the southern coast of the island heading towards Salinas. At Salinas, the road turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan. Before reaching San Juan, it climbs to make its way to the mountain town of Cayey and then it winds down into the city of Caguas on its final approach to San Juan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 15</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 15 (PR-15), formerly Road No. 4, is a main highway connecting the municipalities of Guayama and Cayey in Puerto Rico. With a length of 25.80 km (16.03 mi), it extends from PR-3 in downtown Guayama to PR-14 in downtown Cayey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 167</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 167 (PR-167) is one of the main highways in the San Juan–Caguas–Guaynabo metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. Highway 167 starts at Puerto Rico Highway 165 in Levittown and goes until Puerto Rico Highway 156 in Comerío.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plata Bridge</span> Historic bridge in Bayamón and Naranjito municipalities, Puerto Rico

Plata Bridge, listed in Puerto Rico's bridge inventory as Bridge #374 and now also known as Antiguo Puente Plata, was built in 1908. It is significant as "the only extant large multi span truss bridge in Puerto Rico", according to its nomination document for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes two Parker truss spans and was built in 1908. It brought what is now Puerto Rico Highway 167 across the Rio La Plata, spanning from Bayamon municipality and into Naranjito, and connected several mountain towns to the coastal road along Puerto Rico's north coast.

The Carretera Central is a historic north–south central highway in Puerto Rico, linking the cities of San Juan and Ponce by way of Río Piedras, Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito, Coamo, and Juana Díaz. It crosses the Cordillera Central. Plans for the road started in the first half of the 19th century, and the road was fully completed in 1898. At the time the United States took possession of Puerto Rico in 1898, the Americans called it "the finest road in the Western Hemisphere."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Register of Historic Places listings in central Puerto Rico</span> Places in central Puerto Rico listed on the US National Register of Historic Places

This portion of National Register of Historic Places listings in Puerto Rico is along the central mountain region, from Las Marías and Maricao in the central-west to Juncos in the central-east, including the slopes of the Cordillera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Norzagaray Bridge</span> Bridge in Puerto Rico, listed on the US National Register of Historic Places

The General Norzagaray Bridge is a brick and masonry barrel vault bridge built in 1855 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Also known as Puente de los Frailes, it brings what is now Puerto Rico Highway 873 across Frailes Creek, a tributary to the Guaynabo River. It has eight 9.8-metre (32 ft) barrel vault spans. Its total length is 120.7 metres (396 ft) and its roadway width is 7.00 metres (22.97 ft). It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1995, and on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cayey Bridge</span> Historic bridge in Guayama municipality, Puerto Rico

The Cayey Bridge, also known as Puente de Cayey, is an iron lateral lattice girder bridge in Puerto Rico that was built in 1891. It brings Puerto Rico Highway 15 over the Guamaní River. Despite its name, its actually closer to the city of Guayama and not Cayey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puente de Añasco</span> Historic bridge between Añasco and Mayagüez in Puerto Rico

The Puente de Añasco, also called Puente Salcedo, is a bridge spanning between Añasco, Puerto Rico and Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. It is located at Kilometer 146.1 of Highway 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Liendre Bridge</span> Historic bridge in Cayey and Cidra municipalities, Puerto Rico

The La Liendre Bridge, spanning Beatriz Creek, a tributary to the Río de la Plata, between Cayey, Puerto Rico and Cidra, Puerto Rico. It was built in 1877 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, and on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayamón, Cidra, Puerto Rico</span> Barrio of Puerto Rico

Bayamón is a barrio in the municipality of Cidra, Puerto Rico. Its population in 2010 was 5,995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico Highway 735</span> Highway in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Highway 735 (PR-735) is a rural road located between the municipalities of Cayey and Cidra, Puerto Rico, and it corresponds to an original segment of the historic Carretera Central. The Arenas and La Liendre old bridges are located on this route.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puente No. 6</span> Historic bridge in Caguas, Puerto Rico

Puente No. 6, in Caguas, Puerto Rico is a historic bridge which was built in 1856. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and is located at Puerto Rico Highway 798, Km. 1.0 in Río Cañas barrio.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: A Travel Itinerary: Arenas Bridge". National Park Service.
  3. ↑ It is stated by the National Park Service that the bridge is still in use, at the bottom, here. However, this sat-image at Google indicates a newer bridge on the east for the modern traffic, and shows cars parked in approach to the historic bridge.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Luis F. Pumarada O'Neill (July 31, 1994). National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico, c. 1840-1950 (pdf). National Park Service.
  5. ↑ "Caguitas River Bridge".
  6. ↑ "Nature hike, suspension bridge, and criollo food! - Review of Jardin Botanico y Cultural William Miranda Marin, Caguas, Puerto Rico".
  7. ↑ "¿Para cuándo el arreglo del puente atirantado en Naranjito?". 5 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Per note in National Park Service's Focus database system Archived 2012-08-03 at the Wayback Machine , with spelling change from "Barrio Montellano" in that note to "Barrio Monte Llano", which is a barrio in Cayey.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.