Bridge over Tempisque River
cutting driving time from San José to Samara by at least two hours
The bridge across the Tempisque River is now open, marking a new
era for the northern province of Guanacaste by dramatically cutting
driving time from San José to Samara.
This historic moment in Guanacaste history will bring the Nicoya
Peninsula much closer than it has ever been to San José and the rest
of the country.
The 780-meter-long hybrid bridge unites the western region of Guanacaste, and the Nicoya Peninsula with eastern Guanacaste.
The bridge is a gift from the Taiwanese government. The total cost of
the project was ˘10.1 billion (US$26.1 million).
The bridge consists of an asymmetric cable layout with 4x 2 cables on
each side of the pylon. The asymmetric span lengths are 170 + 90 = 260
meter. The composite cross-section of the bridge has a width of 14.70
meter. The deck is erected by the incremental launching method.
The approach bridge, although plain-looking from above, harbors underneath an intricate pile system.
The end result is an erosion-resistant, earthquake-safe, and elegant bridge, say the builders. Moreover, the Tempisque River Bridge is designed to allow five meters clearance from the highest water level to the bottom of the bridge girder, ensuring the safe passage of small vessels under the bridge, non-obstruction of currents, and resistance to floods.
"This bridge will last for 100 years, it will be here for generations to enjoy," said the director of the project, architect Jack Chang. "This bridge will not only be a landmark, but a symbol of the everlasting friendship that exists between Taiwan and Costa Rica."
