The "Punetta" Bridge, a Light and Efficient Slow Traffic Bridge over the Hinterrhein River in Grisons (CH)

The “Punetta” bridge, affectionately known as the “little bridge” in Rhaeto-Romanic language, is an important infrastructure addition for the municipalities of Bonaduz and Domat/Ems. With its length of over 300 meters, not necessarily what you would expect from a “little bridge”.The “Punetta” bridge is suspended with steel cables under the upstream carriageway console of the existing Hinterrhein Bridge (highway bridge). The walkway surface consists of prefabricated concrete slabs inserted between the steel frames. The steel frames consist of unequal-legged steel angle sections. Viewed from above, the bridge looks like a Gerber beam supported by the existing bridge piers. The integration of the new “Punetta” bridge with the ongoing reinforcement and widening of the existing Hinterrhein Bridge enabled synergies in the construction process, which optimized the workflow and helped to reduce the overall project costs.The suspended bridge construction offers an efficient, cost-effective solution for a pedestrian and cycle connection. The minimal intervention in the existing infrastructure, combined with the use of prefabricated concrete and steel elements, makes it an innovative and sustainable addition to the region's transportation path connection. The completion of the bridge in winter 2023 represents an important milestone in the development of the region's mobility infrastructure and strengthens its connectivity and tourist appeal.