Bridges of Gran Canaria: A vital connection between the north and south of the island

Gran Canaria is an island of deep ravines that drop from the summit to the sea. Because of that, crossing them has always been a challenge. The bridges of Gran Canaria tell that story, from the old stone crossings in the capital to the large viaducts on the highways. Besides connecting towns and neighborhoods, today they are part of the island's landscape and memory.

Main bridges of Gran Canaria

Among the island's best-known bridges Gran Canaria two stand out: one modern, in the north, and one historic, in the capital.

Puente de Silva: the giant of the GC-2

The Puente de Silva is in the north of the island, between Moya and Santa María de Guía. It is part of the GC-2, the highway that links Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the north and northwest. It opened to traffic in the early 1980s and, for years, was one of the tallest viaducts in Europe. It rises more than 100 meters and stretches over 400 meters in length.

Later, growing traffic required the construction of a second parallel viaduct with three lanes. Today tens of thousands of vehicles cross it every day. It even appears in the film «Fast & Furious 6».

Puente de Piedra: the old link between Vegueta and Triana

In Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Guiniguada ravine separated the two historic neighborhoods: Vegueta and Triana. Over the centuries several bridges joined them, although some were destroyed by floods. The most famous was the Puente de Piedra, also called the puente de Verdugo. It was built in the early 19th century with blue stone from Arucas and had three arches.

It was also adorned with four sculptures of the seasons brought from Genoa. However, in the 1970s the city covered the ravine with a road and the bridge disappeared. The Cabildo tells the story of its sculptures on its heritage website.

Importance of bridges in Gran Canaria

The bridges of Gran Canaria play a key role in the island's economic and social life. On one hand, they facilitate the transport of people and goods. On the other, they bring the towns of the north and the interior closer to the capital, the port and the airport. In this way they boost tourism and local trade.

Also, on such a rugged island, a viaduct allows a ravine to be crossed without large cuts into the slopes. For that reason, a good engineering work combines progress with respect for the landscape.

An island of ravines and viaducts

Anyone driving around the island crosses dozens of bridges without noticing. Some are small stone crossings on rural paths. Others are large concrete structures on the highways. Together, the bridges of Gran Canaria show how the island has adapted to its terrain. And, along the way, they offer some of the most spectacular views of its ravines.