The Vizcaya Bridge at Portugalete north of Bilbao was the first mechanical transporter bridge in the world and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2006. The bridge was designed to solve the problem of connecting both banks of the River Bilbao while still allowing to navigate upstream to the port of Bilbao. As the construction of a traditional bridge across the 160 meters of the river was impossible the idea of this type of transporter bridge was conceived whereby foot passengers and vehicles were carried across on a moving platform suspended by cables from the span of the bridge. The bridge was designed by Alberto de Palacio who started work on the project in 1888. Part of the idea for the concept was due to Ferdinand Arnodin, a disciple of Gustav Eiffel. After three years of building the bridge was first used on 28th July 1893. It is considered to be the most important example of the industrial era in Spain and has consequently been declared a Historial Monument. The bridge is an integral part of the daily life of the town of Portugalete and a crossing is made every few minutes throughout the day.
