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Poya Bridge

Coordinates: 46°48′47″N 7°09′55″E / 46.813006°N 7.165155°E / 46.813006; 7.165155
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Poya Bridge

Pont de la Poya
Scenic view of a white, cable-stayed bridge
Coordinates46°48′47″N 7°09′55″E / 46.813006°N 7.165155°E / 46.813006; 7.165155
CarriesVehicular traffic (3 lanes) plus pedestrian/cyclist path
CrossesSarine River
OwnerCanton of Fribourg
Characteristics
DesignMulti-span, cable-stayed bridge
Total length851.6 metres (2,794 ft)[1]
Width19.25 metres (63.2 ft)[1]
Height107.65 metres (353.2 ft)[2]
Longest span196.00 metres (643.04 ft)[2]
Clearance below70 metres (230 ft) (approx.)[1]
History
Construction start31 October 2008[3]
Construction costCHF 211 million[4][a]
Opened12 October 2014[3]
Inaugurated10 October 2014[3]
Statistics
Daily traffic25,000 vehicles[1]
Location
Map

Poya Bridge (French: Pont de la Poya) is a cable-stayed bridge in Fribourg, Switzerland. The bridge is 851.6 metres (2,794 ft) in overall length with a 196 m (643 ft) main span over the Sarine River, which is the longest main span in Switzerland.[4][5] The bridge was built to remove traffic from the Zaehringen Bridge [de; fr] and adjacent neighborhoods and upon opening, on 12 October 2014, the Zaehringen Bridge was closed to most motor vehicles.

Planning and construction

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The Zaehringen Bridge, which the Poya Bridge functionally replaces

Numerous studies have been made since 1959 for a new crossing of the Sarine River in Fribourg. In 1989, the local government invited five engineering firms to submit concept proposals for a new crossing. Plans for the new bridge were crafted in the 1990s and 2000s.[3] Motivation for constructing the bridge was to remove a significant amount of vehicular traffic from the Zaehringen Bridge [de; fr] and surrounding Bourg quarter, Fribourg's historic center. The 25,000 vehicles per day took a significant toll on quality of life in the neighborhood and were degrading the Fribourg Cathedral, a symbol of the city.[3][6]

In June 2006, the Grand Council of Fribourg approved the project and scheduled a public vote to approve financing of the project. Three months later, financing of the Poya Bridge was approved by 81% of Fribourg voters.[3][7] The contractor was a consortium of Implenia Construction SA, Grisoni-Zaugg SA et Routes Modernes SA.[8]

Work began on 31 October 2008 and the bridge opened to vehicular traffic on 12 October 2014.[3] The bridge cost 211 million Swiss francs.[4][a] Upon opening, the Zaehringen Bridge was closed to most motor vehicles and now serves only emergency vehicles, public transportation buses, motorized scooters, cyclists, and pedestrians.[6]

Characteristics

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Poya Bridge during construction

The main span of the bridge is 196.00 m (643.04 ft) in length—the longest in Switzerland—and positioned between two pylons of unequal height.[2][4][5] The southeast pylon, on the bank of the Sarine River, rises 107.65 m (353.2 ft) above the river.[2] The northwest pylon rises 90.96 m (298.4 ft) above its base, which is higher than the southeast pylon.[2] The two pylons support a 368 m (1,207 ft) cable-stayed span.[2] The remainder of the bridge is supported by ten piers.[2] A cover on the northwest 160 m (520 ft) of the bridge leading to the tunnel entrance was added to reduce noise in the adjacent Palatinat quarter.[6]

The bridge deck carries three lanes of traffic—two leading towards the town center and one away from the town center—and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.[2][4] The bridge deck is inclined; the southeast end is approximately 18 m (59 ft) higher than the northwest end.[2] The bridge deck is flanked by 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) barriers to prevent suicide attempts.[4]

The northwest end of the bridge leads directly into a cut-and-cover tunnel, known as the 272 m (892 ft) Poya Tunnel (French: Tunnel de Poya) and built at the same time as the bridge at a cost of 28 million francs.[9] The tunnel travels beneath the Berne-Fribourg rail line and Palatinat Park.[9] The pedestrian and cycling path diverges from the bridge and leads to the Bellevue and Palatinat quarters without entering the tunnel.[5] The tunnel from the bridge intersects a short subterranean segment of Rue de Morat. The intersection is an underground roundabout around a cone-shaped column.[9][10][11]

The speed limit is 60 km/h on the bridge and 50 km/h in the tunnel.[1][4]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b The exchange rate of the Swiss franc fluctuated significantly during the construction period (2008-2014). Against the U.S. dollar, it fluctuated from about $0.82 to $1.36. At 1 franc=$1.05, the construction cost was $221.5 million.[12] Against the Euro, it fluctuated from about €0.63 to €1.00. At 1 franc=€0.82, the construction cost was €173 million.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Le pont de la Poya" (in French). Radio Télévision Suisse. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Le pont de la Poya" (in French). Radio Télévision Suisse. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Poya: Historique" (in French). Canton of Fribourg. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Le pont de la Poya inauguré à Fribourg". ArcInfo (in French). Groupe ESH Médias. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  5. ^ a b c "Poya: Le pont" (in French). Canton of Fribourg. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Poya: Trafic" (in French). Canton of Fribourg. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  7. ^ Votations cantonales: large victoire à Fribourg pour le Pont de la Poya [Cantonal elections: Large victory in Fribourg for the Poya Bridge] (Television production) (in French). Radio Télévision Suisse. 24 September 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2016.
  8. ^ "le financement du pont de la Poya assuré". 20 Minutes. 10 July 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Les ouvrages souterrains" (in French). Canton of Fribourg. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  10. ^ Houriet, Bernard; Joliet, Renaud; Plumey, Sylvain; Nicolet, Jérôme (14 May 2013). "Galerie souterraine de la route de Morat". Espazium (in French). Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  11. ^ "Poya Tunnel-Rue de Morat tunnel under construction" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  12. ^ "USD per 1 CHF". XE.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  13. ^ "EUR per 1 CHF". XE.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
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