The Millennium Bridge

The Millennium Bridge is one of Tortosa’s major works of contemporary engineering. Built across the River Ebro and inaugurated in 1988, its name is linked to the commemoration of the millennium of Catalonia. In addition, its construction provided a new road connection designed to divert some of the traffic that previously had to pass through the city centre.

The bridge was designed by civil engineers José Antonio Fernández Ordóñez and Julio Martínez Calzón, two prominent figures in contemporary Spanish structural engineering. In fact, its design and dimensions made it a particularly innovative structure at the time of its construction.

Millennium Bridge, a remarkable feat of engineering

The Millennium Bridge has a total length of 384 metres and a width of 17.70 metres. Its main span measures 180 metres. Moreover, the deck rises approximately 22 metres above the River Ebro. At the time of its construction, it was considered the longest-span hyperstatic bridge in Europe.

Its structure combines large steel elements with substantial concrete supports on both sides of the river. As a result, the bridge stands out not only for its function as a road link but also for its presence in Tortosa’s urban landscape. Furthermore, it is currently listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (BCIL).

The Ebro Museum beneath the bridge

One of the most unusual features of the bridge is that one of its large piers houses the Ebro Museum, inaugurated in 1993. The museum has three exhibition rooms arranged over three floors. In addition, it hosts exhibitions and activities related to art, history, ethnology and the surrounding region.

Moreover, the architecture of the interior makes the museum particularly distinctive, with the bridge’s concrete structure integrated into the exhibition spaces. In fact, the Ebro Museum continues to host cultural and exhibition activities, with events documented during 2026.

Therefore, for current exhibitions, activities and access arrangements, visitors can consult the Amics i Amigues de l’Ebre website.

Millennium Bridge and the Ebro landscape

Since its construction, the bridge has become part of Tortosa’s contemporary riverfront. In addition, it connects both banks of the Ebro at the southern end of the urban area and is one of the city’s main river crossings.

Bridges are, in fact, a fundamental part of Tortosa’s historical relationship with the Ebro. For this reason, this contemporary structure can be linked to other features associated with the city’s former railway infrastructure, such as the Red Bridge and the Greenway. An internal link to the corresponding page on tortosaturisme.cat can be added here.

Furthermore, beneath the bridge, beside the riverside promenade, there is an area designated for motorhomes, integrated into this part of Tortosa’s riverfront.

Finally, the bridge offers visitors a different perspective on Tortosa’s heritage. Alongside the city’s medieval, Renaissance and Modernist monuments, it represents the architecture and engineering of the late 20th century. At the same time, its prominent position reinforces Tortosa’s close relationship with the River Ebro.