Bridges over the Nervion River

 La Salve Bridge

The La Salve Bridge is the main artery connecting northern provinces of Biscaya into the city. The highway from France through San Sebastian enters the city along this bridge over the Nervion River. When the Guggenheim was designed the bridge was incorporated into the main building of the museum - giving an impression of the bridge piercing through one end of the museum.

 Pedro Arruppe Zubia - a pedestrian bridge just past the Guggenheim

 on Pedro Arruppe Zubia with the Guggenheim in the background

 art work on the walls of one end of the La Salve Bridge

 Zubizuri Bridge

The Zubizuri Bridge was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Caltrava who also designed the new Bilbao airport.Opened in 1997 its unusual designconsisits of a curved walkwaysupported by steel suspension cables from an overhead arch. The main bridge structure is painted white,and  the bridge deck consists of translucent glass bricks. Unfortunately the wet rainy climate of Bilbao rendered this pedestrian bridge slippery causing many injuries to its users. Today a rubber layer is added to the glass bricks.