Vizcaya Bridge: The World's First Transporter Bridge

The Vizcaya bridge was conceived, designed and built by private initiative between 1887 and 1893 and opened on 28 July 1893 — the first transporter bridge of its type anywhere in the world, and one of only eight still standing. Alberto de Palacio y Elissague designed it, with the French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin repeatedly mediating when Palacio and the builders fell out; Arnodin went on to build the very similar transporter bridge at Rochefort. It is still a working toll crossing: a gondola slung under the span carries vehicles and passengers between Portugalete and Las Arenas across the mouth of the Bilbao estuary.