Circular bridge in Uruguay is probably the most unusual in the world

(Patria) - The bridge connecting the shores of the Garzón Lagoon in Uruguay may be the most unusual in the world, writes Punkufer.

Although it performs its function flawlessly, many are surprised by its shape. Namely, instead of crossing the lagoon by the shortest possible route, i.e., a straight line, this bridge makes a circle over it.

Traffic on the circular bridge is not organized like a roundabout; instead, the two roadways, one for each direction, separate upon reaching the bridge, describe a semicircle, and then merge again and continue to run parallel.



Why in a circle?

Unusual and photogenic, this bridge has been delighting social media for a whole decade, and there is always someone who, with a hand-drawn red line across the photo, suggests that the bridge would span the lagoon even if it were straight.

The bridge was designed by the company "Rafael Viñoly Architects" with several goals in mind. The first, of course, was to enable a quick crossing for cars over the lagoon.



Before the bridge was built, this was done using motorized ferries that could carry one vehicle at a time, so reaching the other side of the lagoon was much slower and more complicated.

The second goal was, despite the future bridge, to preserve biodiversity, and the circular shape proved to be a good solution for that as well. Namely, the ring-shaped shadow of the bridge moves with the sun throughout the day, and if the structure were solid in the middle, part of the lagoon under the bridge would constantly be without light.

The Garzón Lagoon is also an area of great ornithological importance, home to numerous bird species, including the Chilean flamingo, as well as endangered amphibians such as Darwin's toad.

The third reason why this bridge is circular is safety. Approaching from the access road into a huge curve forces you to slow down, while a straight, clear road "tempts" many to press the gas pedal to the floor.

And finally, although drivers may not, in slower driving, passengers will enjoy the view of the lagoon more, and so they wouldn't have to catch it while driving, the project also provided seating areas, spots for enjoyment and fishing on the edge of this different bridge.

Construction of this attractive bridge, which cost more than 10 million euros, began in September 2014, and the bridge was opened to the public at the end of 2015.



It consists of more than 450 tons of iron and three and a half thousand cubic meters of concrete. The diameter of the ring is 202 meters, and the bridge is high enough to allow unobstructed navigation underneath.

The Garzón Lagoon Bridge, in addition to connecting the Uruguayan regions of Rocha and Maldonado, has become a real tourist attraction, as well as a favorite place for recreation for residents who can now walk, cycle, and enjoy a panoramic view of literally 360 degrees over the lagoon.