Elegant and also Affordable – the Salginatobel Bridge

The Wildener Bridge in the famous Viamala gorge: a monument, in stone, to the history of transportation from the early 18th century. The Landwasser Viaduct in the Albula Valley: one of the Rhaetian Railway’s landmarks, erected without scaffolding in the early 20th century. The Sunniberg Bridge near Klosters: a gigantic yet delicate road bridge, opened in the early 21st century.

Yes, Graubünden is not only a land of mountains but also of bridges. One of the most fascinating bridges is tucked away off the beaten track: the Salginatobel Bridge, located between Schiers and Schuders. At first glance, the bridge appears to have been cast from a single mould: the single-lane bridge deck merges with the arch in the middle, and the few supports seem to fit seamlessly into the ensemble.

In fact, the construction is not only aesthetically pleasing but also an economic success: the three-hinged reinforced concrete arch and the installed bridge deck form box girders, which allowed engineer Robert Maillart to use considerably less concrete, thereby reducing costs. At a price of 135,000 francs, with an additional 45,000 francs for the scaffolding designed by Richard Coray, Robert Maillart created a masterpiece around 1930. An engineering association even elevated the bridge to world monument status – putting it on par with the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal.