Joining the two banks of the River Nervión, halfway in one direction with the Bilbao City Council and in the other direction with the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, is the Zubizuri pedestrian bridge, the Campo de Volantín bridge or better known as the Calatrava bridge.
It is an arch bridge 75 meters long, designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and which was inaugurated on May 30, 1997.
It joins Campo de Volantín street on one side with the old Uribitarte pier on the other side.
The inclined arch shaped like a distorted parabola supports the entire pedestrian structure with 39 steel cables on each side. Access to the Zubizuri bridge is possible via stairs or access ramps.
The surface is made of translucent glass plates and as a result of Bilbao’s humid climate, the floor slides, turning into a slippery trap, which is why a temporary carpet had to be installed to avoid accidents. The pedestrian crossing rises 8.5 m above the water.
In order to connect the Zubizuri bridge with the Isozaki Atea tower promenade, the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki was asked to design a platform in 2006.
The following year Calatrava denounced the Bilbao City Council because a metal bar from his work was cut. The judge in charge of the case ordered the City Council to pay € 30,000 that Calatrava decided to donate to the Casa de la Misericordia in Bilbao.
Bilbao is a city that invites to be explored on foot. Strolling along the banks of the Nervión river you will find the Zubizuri bridge, from which you will have the Guggenheim in front of you.
It is a colorful bridge that offers a few photographs and has a lot of foot traffic. An experience to go from one shore to the other.
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