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The “Ponte della Musica-Armando Trovajoli”, literally translating to “The Bridge of Music”, crosses over the Tiber River connecting the roman quarters of Della Vittoria and Flaminio. Suspended between the Lungotevere Flaminio and Cadorna, the bridge connects the Parco della Musica auditorium, Villa Glori Park, the MAXXI museum and the Olympic Theatre with the sporting complex of the Foro Italico, the youth hostel, the green area of Monte Mario, the Genio Museum, and the Rai auditorium.

Built in steel and reinforced concrete, it is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists as well as for public transport. After being inaugurated in May of 2011 as Ponte della Musica (the Bridge of Music), two years later it was dedicated to the memory of Armando Trovajoli, thus assuming its current name.

Historical Background
Although the project was already recorded in the 1929 blueprint of the Capital city, it took 70 years for the project to get under way. In 2000, an international competition for the design of the bridge was won by the Buro Happold studio of London and engineer Davood Liaghat alongside Kit Powell-Williams Architects. The final project was also developed by the Engineering Company Carly Lotti & Associates of Rome, and the executive project was jointly awarded to ATP Mario Petrangeli and Associates and the Studio Biggi-Guerrini. The building of the structure was assigned to Consorzio Stabile Consta and executed by the company Mattioli for a total cost of around 8 million euro. Initially, the bridge was conceived exclusively for pedestrian use. It was only later on that it was modified to also support cyclists and sustainable public transport such as electric buses and trams.

The construction began in 2008 and ended in 2011. The inauguration, originally expected to be on April 21st (the 2,764th birthday of Rome), was postponed to May 31st due to a failed batch of 2,000 bangkirai wood slats used to pave the sidewalks that had to be removed and replaced with new planks.

Following the passing of Roman composer Armando Trovajoli in February of 2013, on May 30th of the same year, his name was placed next to the previous name of the bridge, thus assuming its current name.

Description
The bridge, designed in contemporary style, is constructed by a combination of different materials such as steel, high strength concrete, reinforced concrete, and wood. It is an arch structure that is 190 meters long and reaches a maximum width of 22 meters in the center and 14 meters at the two far ends. The major architectural element of the piece consists of the two grand lowered arches in steel - slightly angled outwards - which enclose and support the metal deck; between them, otherwise, there is no horizontal connection at the top: this design makes the bridge appear particularly light and it separates the central traffic lanes from the two pedestrian walkways that overlook the Tiber.

Reinforced concrete is used to support the arches, which extend towards the ground and thrust the two elements. The imposts at the base include the stairs leading to the floor and the access to the riverbanks. The central walkway of the bridge for cyclists and public transport is paved in asphalt; the two purely pedestrian sidewalks are instead covered with planks of wood that lay directly on the steel structure.

The final design of the bridge included a structural modification that did not change the geometry and shape designed by architect Powell. In the new configuration, the bridge actually has a framework cable-stays on the inside of the deck. Additionally, to make it more earthquake proof, the left abutment, on the piazza Gentile da Fabriano side of the bridge, was equipped with seismic isolators.

Transport
Rome Subway: Stations Flaminio and Lepanto

Railways: Nearest Station: Piazza Euclide

Other Projects

 * Wikimedia Commons have other images and files on Ponte della Musica