Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano, also known as Puente Juan José Jiménez and listed as Bridge #321 in

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

's bridge inventory, was built in 1905 in Hato Viejo, Ciales, Puerto Rico. It was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1995. It was the first truss bridge built in Puerto Rico under the administration of the United States (1898–1900) after the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

. The bridge spans above the Río Grande de Manatí. For Puerto Rico, the span is high, above the river, "above a spectacular curving canyon of vertical walls traversed by the Manati River". It is a rare type of bridge: a steel double intersection

Pratt truss A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...

, above a concrete substructure, and is the only such highway bridge in Puerto Rico. Its a wide, one-lane road. with The bridge is visited by tourists. At least 10 railway bridges used the double intersection Pratt truss design, in the French-owned railway that was built during 1890-93 between San Juan and Ponce. Only Cambalache Bridge, across the Arecibo River, survived, as of 1994. The rest were dismantled and sold to cover a bankruptcy by the railroad company that owned them. It was remodeled in 2010. Residents complain when the bridge is closed because it is the only direct access from Manatí to Ciales when the bridge from Morovis to Ciales is inaccessible. In 2018, $6.8 million dollars were earmarked by the US

Federal Highway Administration The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program ...

for repairs to the bridge.

Gallery

Views of the canyon and Río Grande de Manatí from Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano: Río Grande de Manatí from Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano 08.jpg Río Grande de Manatí from Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano 06.jpg Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano, Ciales, Puerto Rico, river and canyon.jpg Manatí Bridge at Mata de Plátano in Ciales, Puerto Rico.jpg

References

External links

Digital Assets 95000847 on NRHP
* , National Register of Historic Places cover documentation {{DEFAULTSORT:Manati Bridge at Mata de Platano Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Puerto Rico Bridges completed in 1905 Steel bridges in the United States Concrete bridges in the United States 1905 establishments in Puerto Rico