Juscelino Kubitschek bridge

Juscelino Kubitschek bridge
The Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge viewed from the eastern shore of Lake Paranoá.
Coordinates
Carries	vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian traffic
Crosses	Lake Paranoá
Locale	Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Official name	Ponte Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek
Maintained by	Governo do Distrito Federal
Characteristics
Design	asymmetric Arch bridge with suspended deck
Total length	1,200 metres (3,900 ft)
Width	24 metres (79 ft)
Height	60 metres (200 ft)
Longest span	240 metres (790 ft)
Clearance below	18 metres (59 ft)
History
Designer	Alexandre Chan and Mário Vila Verde
Construction begin	2000
Construction end	2002
Opened	2002
Juscelino Kubitschek bridge is located in Brasília

Ground view of the JK Bridge.

JK Bridge at dusk

Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge (Portuguese: Ponte Juscelino Kubitschek), also called President JK Bridge or JK Bridge, is a steel and concrete bridge crossing Lake Paranoá in Brasília, Brazil. It links the eastern shore of the lake to the center of the city, through the Monumental Axis. Inaugurated on December 15, 2002, the bridge almost immediately became a symbol of Brasília, with its distinctive silhouette.

It is named for Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira, former president of Brazil, who is generally considered the main figure supporting the construction of Brasília. It was designed by architect Alexandre Chan and structural engineer Mário Vila Verde.

The structure of the bridge has a total length of 5 metres (16 ft), a width of 24 metres (79 ft) and two carriageways with three lanes in each direction, two walkways on the sides for cyclists and pedestrians 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) wide, and three spans of 240 metres (790 ft). The main span structure has four supporting pillars submerged on Lake Paranoá, and the deck weight is supported by three 200-foot-tall (61 m) asymmetrical steel arches that crisscross diagonally. The decks are suspended by steel cables alternating at each side of the deck, interlacing in a twisted plane. The entire structure has a total length of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft), and it was completed at a cost of US$56.8 million . The bridge has a pedestrian walkway and is accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists.

Awards

Chan won the Gustav Lindenthal Medal for the bridge's project at the 2003 International Bridge Conference in Pittsburgh. This medal is awarded "for a single, recent outstanding achievement showing harmony with the environment, aesthetic merit and successful community participation".

The bridge was also awarded the "Premio Abcem 2003" (ABCEM Award) – Best Steel Work of the Year, Bridges and Highway Overpasses Category, granted by the Brazilian Metal Construction Association (Associação Brasileira da Construção Metálica, ABCEM).

Dimensions

• Length: 1,200 m
• Deck width: 24 m (three lanes in each direction)
• Width of lateral passageways: 1.5 m (on each side)
• Rise: 60 m
• Clearance: 18 m
• Arch span: 240 m on each of 3 spans

Gallery

• Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge Photo by Sascha Grabow.jpg

  JK Bridge at night.

• BSB Ponte JK Helicoptero 02 2006 79 8x6.JPG

  Aerial view of the bridge.

• JK bridge Brasilia lights.jpg

  Night view of the bridge.

• 28 12 05 010 zoom approach Ponte JK.jpg

  Approach to the bridge.

• BSB Ponte JK 08 2005 58 8x6.JPG

External links

• (Portuguese) Photo 360° of JK Bridge - GUIABSB
• International Bridge Conference Award Winners
• (Portuguese) Associação Brasileira da Construção Metálica
• Satellite picture on Google Maps
• Night photo showing pedestrian / bike path
• Daytime photo
• (Portuguese) Interview with architect Alexandre Chan