October 31, 1886
A double-deck metal arch bridge on Portugal’s northwestern coast was formally opened. This structure, crossing the river Douro, serves as a link between the cities of Porto and Villa Nova de Gaia. The bridge was named after Dom Luís I (1838-1889), who reigned as king of Portugal from 1861 until his death.
The Dom Luís I Bridge was designed by German-born French engineer Théophile Seyrig (1843-1923). Construction on the bridge began on November 21, 1881. When this structure was opened, its 564-foot (172-meter)-long span held the record as the longest for any arch bridge in the world.
The Dom Luís I Bridge remains in operation today. Its upper level is used by both pedestrians and Line D of the light rail network known as the Porto Metro. The bridge’s lower level is used by pedestrians, cyclists, buses, and taxis.
Photo Credit: Deensel (https://www.flickr.com/people/158619309@N03) – licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
For more information on the Dom Luís I Bridge, please check out https://www.bridgeinfo.net/bridge/index.php?ID=56
Transportation History 
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