Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge

Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge
Governador Nobre de Carvalho Bridge at night
Coordinates	22°10′35″N 113°32′46″E
Carries	2 lanes
Crosses	Praia Grande Bay
Locale	Macau Peninsula and Taipa
Official name	Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho
Other name(s)	Macau-Taipa Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Girder bridge
Total length	2,569.8 metres (8,431 ft)
Width	9.2 metres (30 ft)
Longest span	1,213 metres (3,980 ft)
History
Opened	5 October 1974
Closed	2005–2006
Statistics
Daily traffic	buses and taxis
Toll	free
Location

Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	嘉樂庇總督大橋
Simplified Chinese	嘉乐庇总督大桥
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Jiālèbì zǒngdū dàqiáo Wade–Giles Chialepi tsungtu tach'iao Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization ga1 le4 bei3 jung2 duk1 daai6 kiu4 Jyutping gaa1 lok6 bei2 zong2 duk1 daai6 kiu4
Macau-Taipa Bridge
Traditional Chinese	澳氹大橋
Simplified Chinese	澳氹大桥
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Àodàng dàqiáo Wade–Giles Aotang tach'iao Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization ou3 tam5 daai5 kiu4 Jyutping ou3 tam5 daai6 kiu4
Portuguese name
Portuguese	Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho

The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge also known as the Macau-Taipa Bridge, is a dual-lane two-way bridge connecting Macau Peninsula near Casino Lisboa and the island of Taipa at the northern slope of Taipa Pequena (Small Taipa Hill) crossing the Baía da Praia Grande. It is the first bridge in Macau, to connect the peninsula and Taipa. It is locally known as "The Old Bridge" (Chinese: 舊大橋).

History

Construction started in June 1970, during Portuguese rule. With a length of 2,569.8 metres (8,431 ft) and a width of 9.2 metres (30 ft), it was open to traffic in October 1974. The middle of the bridge is raised, in the shape of a triangular arc, to allow vessels to pass through. The highest point of the bridge is 35 metres (115 ft) above sea level. Once the longest continuous bridge on Earth, it is named after José Manuel de Sousa e Faria Nobre de Carvalho, the Governor of Macau from November 25, 1966, to November 19, 1974. Due to the construction around Casino Lisboa, the bridge was temporarily closed in 2005. As of 2006, the bridge is open again, but only to buses and taxis.

Architecture

The bridge is meant to take the shape of a dragon, with Casino Lisboa representing the dragon's head, and Taipa Monument on Taipa Pequena the dragon's tail.

See also

• Transport in Macau