San Miguel de Piura Bridge (Peru)
El puente San Miguel de Piura
On 12 April 1891, the road bridge fell, as a result of the rise of the Piura river, due to the phenomenon of El Niño. It was rebuilt in 1893 after C. T. Findlay and H. Rathbone showed Miguel Checa the designs of two bridges that were destined for Asia. In 1981, the structure collapsed again when a trailer tried to cross it from Castilla, and in 1991 it was rebuilt respecting its original design. However, on 12 March 1998, the Piura River exceeded the 1983 flow , and this bridge collapsed.[1]
1893 Description and illustrations of a road bridge at Piura, Peru, constructed by the Butterley Co, described in Engineering, 24 November 1893. 'The braced arch is not a common form of construction among English engineers, although, as compared
with the arched rib, it has merits which entitle it to
more consideration than it has received. .... recently constructed from the designs of Mr. C. F.
Findlay, M. Inst. C.E ., of 13, Victoria-street, Westminster.
This bridge replaces a girder bridge destroyed by a flood in the spring of 1891. All that remamed of the
old bridge was the brick abutments and a solid brick
pier, .....
The material used is steel of 27 to 31 tons tenacity per
square inch. The climate is particularly favourable
to the preservation of ironwork, being almost rainless. .....
Fig. 6 shows the fastening used for all the main connections made in the field (except where large pins
were used). The holes in bars and plates were drilled
in the ordinary way and broached out in place when
the work was erected in England to a taper of 1/2in. to
a foot, the bolts being turned to the same taper. This
makes a joint as tight as a riveted joint and more
secure, while it can be made by unskilled labour and
very quickly. The bridge is floored with joists of
12-in. Oregon pine and 3-in. planking.
..... The bridge was manufactured by the
Butterley Company, and erected by Messrs. Viñas and
Ellmore, of Lima, under the superinendence of Mr .
A. P. Rathbone, with Señor Emeterio Perez as Government inspector. It was opened for traffic in May
of this year.'[2]