{{Infobox bridge | name = Poya Bridge | native_name = Pont de la Poya | native_name_lang = French | image = PontPoya2014.jpg | image_upright = | alt = Scenic view of a white, cable-stayed bridge | caption = | coordinates = {{coord|46.813006|7.165155|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = | carries = Vehicular traffic (3 lanes) plus pedestrian/cyclist path | crosses = Sarine River | locale = | official_name = | other_name = | named_for = | owner = Canton of Fribourg | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = Multi-span, cable-stayed bridge | material = | material1 = | material2 = | length = {{convert|851.6|m}}<ref name="RTS: overview">{{cite web|title=Le pont de la Poya|url=http://info.rts.ch/carteanimee/pontpoya.html|publisher=Radio Télévision Suisse|accessdate=24 May 2016|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119065403/http://info.rts.ch/carteanimee/pontpoya.html|archive-date=19 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | width = {{convert|19.25|m}}<ref name="RTS: overview"/> | height = {{convert|107.65|m}}<ref name="RTS: plans">{{cite web|title=Le pont de la Poya|url=http://info.rts.ch/infographies/zoom/poya.php|publisher=Radio Télévision Suisse|accessdate=24 May 2016|language=French|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524042235/http://info.rts.ch/infographies/zoom/poya.php|archive-date=24 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | mainspan = {{convert|196.00|m}}<ref name="RTS: plans"/> | number_spans = | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = {{convert|70|m}} (approx.)<ref name="RTS: overview"/> | life = | architect = | designer = | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = | builder = | fabricator = | begin = 31 October 2008<ref name="Poya: Historique"/> | complete = | cost = CHF 211 million<ref name="arcinfo">{{cite news|title=Le pont de la Poya inauguré à Fribourg|url=http://www.arcinfo.ch/articles/suisse/le-pont-de-la-poya-inaugure-a-fribourg-348094|accessdate=24 May 2016|work=ArcInfo|publisher=Groupe ESH Médias|date=10 October 2016|language=French|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160524063741/http://www.arcinfo.ch/articles/suisse/le-pont-de-la-poya-inaugure-a-fribourg-348094|archivedate=24 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|name=fn1}} | open = 12 October 2014<ref name="Poya: Historique"/> | inaugurated = 10 October 2014<ref name="Poya: Historique"/> | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = | replaced_by = | traffic = 25,000 vehicles<ref name="RTS: overview"/> | toll = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_dot_label = | map_image = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = }} '''Poya Bridge''' ({{langx|fr|Pont de la Poya}}, {{IPA|fr|pɔ̃ də la pɔja|pron}}) is a cable-stayed bridge in Fribourg, Switzerland. The bridge is {{convert|851.6|m}} in overall length with a {{convert|196|m|adj=on|abbr=on}} main span over the Sarine River, which is the longest main span in Switzerland.<ref name="arcinfo"/><ref name="Poya: Le pont"/> The bridge was built to remove traffic from the {{interlanguage link|Zaehringen Bridge|de|Zähringerbrücke|fr|Pont de Zaehringen}} and adjacent neighborhoods and upon opening, on 12 October 2014, the Zaehringen Bridge was closed to most motor vehicles.
==Planning and construction== thumb|left|The Zaehringen Bridge, which the Poya Bridge functionally replaces Numerous studies have been made since 1959 for a new crossing of the Sarine River in Fribourg. In 1989, the local government invited five engineering firms to submit concept proposals for a new crossing. Plans for the new bridge were crafted in the 1990s and 2000s.<ref name="Poya: Historique">{{cite web|title=Poya: Historique|url=http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/historique.htm|publisher=Canton of Fribourg|accessdate=24 May 2016|language=French|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322192755/http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/historique.htm|archivedate=22 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Motivation for constructing the bridge was to remove a significant amount of vehicular traffic from the {{interlanguage link|Zaehringen Bridge|de|Zähringerbrücke|fr|Pont de Zaehringen}} and surrounding Bourg quarter, Fribourg's historic center. The 25,000 vehicles per day took a significant toll on quality of life in the neighborhood and were degrading the Fribourg Cathedral, a symbol of the city.<ref name="Poya: Historique"/><ref name="Poya:Trafic"/>
In June 2006, the Grand Council of Fribourg approved the project and scheduled a public vote to approve financing of the project. Three months later, financing of the Poya Bridge was approved by 81% of Fribourg voters.<ref name="Poya: Historique"/><ref>{{cite AV media |date=24 September 2006 |title=Votations cantonales: large victoire à Fribourg pour le Pont de la Poya |trans-title=Cantonal elections: Large victory in Fribourg for the Poya Bridge |medium=Television production |language=French |url=http://www.rts.ch/play/tv/19h30/video/votations-cantonales-large-victoire-a-fribourg-pour-le-pont-de-la-poya?id=1577840 |access-date=23 May 2016 |time= |location= |publisher=Radio Télévision Suisse |id= |isbn= |oclc= |quote= |ref= }}</ref> The contractor was a consortium of Implenia Construction SA, Grisoni-Zaugg SA et Routes Modernes SA.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.20min.ch/ro/news/romandie/story/le-financement-du-pont-de-la-Poya-assure-15585123?httpredirect | title=le financement du pont de la Poya assuré | publisher=20 Minutes|date=10 July 2009 | accessdate=31 October 2018}}</ref>
Work began on 31 October 2008 and the bridge opened to vehicular traffic on 12 October 2014.<ref name="Poya: Historique"/> The bridge cost 211 million Swiss francs.<ref name="arcinfo"/>{{efn|name=fn1}} Upon opening, the Zaehringen Bridge was closed to most motor vehicles and now serves only emergency vehicles, public transportation buses, motorized scooters, cyclists, and pedestrians.<ref name="Poya:Trafic"/>
==Characteristics== thumb|left|Poya Bridge during construction The main span of the bridge is {{convert|196.00|m|abbr=on}} in length—the longest in Switzerland—and positioned between two pylons of unequal height.<ref name="RTS: plans"/><ref name="arcinfo"/><ref name="Poya: Le pont"/> The southeast pylon, on the bank of the Sarine River, rises {{convert|107.65|m|abbr=on}} above the river.<ref name="RTS: plans"/> The northwest pylon rises {{convert|90.96|m|abbr=on}} above its base, which is higher than the southeast pylon.<ref name="RTS: plans"/> The two pylons support a {{convert|368|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} cable-stayed span.<ref name="RTS: plans"/> The remainder of the bridge is supported by ten piers.<ref name="RTS: plans"/> A cover on the northwest {{convert|160|m|abbr=on}} of the bridge leading to the tunnel entrance was added to reduce noise in the adjacent Palatinat quarter.<ref name="Poya:Trafic">{{cite web|title=Poya: Trafic|url=http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/trafic.htm|publisher=Canton of Fribourg|accessdate=24 May 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322193850/http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/trafic.htm|archivedate=22 March 2016|url-status=live|language=French}}</ref>
The bridge deck carries three lanes of traffic—two leading towards the town center and one away from the town center—and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.<ref name="RTS: plans"/><ref name="arcinfo"/> The bridge deck is inclined; the southeast end is approximately {{convert|18|m|abbr=on}} higher than the northwest end.<!-- on lower map: H=591.95 on left; H=609.91 on right just beyond bridge end --><ref name="RTS: plans"/> The bridge deck is flanked by {{convert|2.5|m|abbr=on}} barriers to prevent suicide attempts.<ref name="arcinfo"/>
The northwest end of the bridge leads directly into a cut-and-cover tunnel, known as the {{convert|272|m|abbr=on|adj=on}} Poya Tunnel ({{langx|fr|Tunnel de Poya}}) and built at the same time as the bridge at a cost of 28 million francs.<ref name="Poya: Tunnel">{{cite web|title=Les ouvrages souterrains|url=http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/poya_les_ouvrages_souterrains.htm|publisher=Canton of Fribourg|accessdate=24 May 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322192811/http://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/poya_les_ouvrages_souterrains.htm|archivedate=22 March 2016|url-status=live|language=French}}</ref> The tunnel travels beneath the Berne-Fribourg rail line and Palatinat Park.<ref name="Poya: Tunnel"/> The pedestrian and cycling path diverges from the bridge and leads to the Bellevue and Palatinat quarters without entering the tunnel.<ref name="Poya: Le pont">{{cite web|title=Poya: Le pont|url=https://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/pont.htm|publisher=Canton of Fribourg|accessdate=24 May 2016|language=French|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405030103/https://www.fr.ch/poya/fr/pub/pont.htm|archivedate=5 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The tunnel from the bridge intersects a short subterranean segment of Rue de Morat. The intersection is an underground roundabout around a cone-shaped column.<ref name="Poya: Tunnel"/><ref name="Espazium">{{cite web|last1=Houriet|first1=Bernard|last2=Joliet|first2=Renaud|last3=Plumey|first3=Sylvain|last4=Nicolet|first4=Jérôme|title=Galerie souterraine de la route de Morat|url=https://www.espazium.ch/galerie-souterraine-de-la-route-de-morat|website=Espazium|accessdate=24 May 2016|language=French|date=14 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Google maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8166894,7.157092,445m/data=!3m1!1e3|title=Poya Tunnel-Rue de Morat tunnel under construction|accessdate=24 May 2016}}</ref>
The speed limit is 60 km/h on the bridge and 50 km/h in the tunnel.<ref name="RTS: overview"/><ref name="arcinfo"/>
==Notes== {{Notelist|refs= {{efn|name=fn1|The exchange rate of the Swiss franc fluctuated significantly during the construction period (2008-2014). Against the U.S. dollar, it fluctuated from about $0.82 to $1.36. At 1 franc{{=}}$1.05, the construction cost was $221.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=USD per 1 CHF|url=http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=CHF&to=USD&view=10Y#|website=XE.com|accessdate=24 May 2016}}</ref> Against the Euro, it fluctuated from about €0.63 to €1.00. At 1 franc{{=}}€0.82, the construction cost was €173 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=EUR per 1 CHF|url=http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=CHF&to=EUR&view=10Y|website=XE.com|accessdate=24 May 2016}}</ref>}} }}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Pont de la Poya}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Bridges in Fribourg Category:Cable-stayed bridges in Switzerland Category:Road bridges in Switzerland Category:Bridges completed in 2014 Category:21st-century architecture in Switzerland