“The Old Bridge” some locals call it. The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge stands before us. This bridge is more than just a way to get from one place to another. It is a symbol of Macau’s history. It links the peninsula and Taipa Island.
The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge is also known as the Macau–Taipa Bridge. It was Macau’s first bridge. It crosses the Praia Grande Bay. Construction began in June 1970. The bridge opened to traffic in October 1974.
Edgar Cardoso designed this bridge. It stretches 2,569.8 meters. That’s about 8,431 feet. It is 9.2 meters wide. That is about 30 feet. The bridge’s center rises. This allows ships to pass. The passage is 73 meters wide. The highest point is 35 meters above sea level. That equals 115 feet. This design creates a flat triangle shape when viewed from afar.
José Manuel de Sousa e Faria Nobre de Carvalho was honored. He was the Governor of Macau. He served from 1966 to 1974. The bridge bears his name.
Later, the shoreline was rearranged. This shortened the bridge to 2,436 meters. That equals 7,992 feet.
The bridge had a temporary closure in 2005. This was due to construction near Casino Lisboa. It reopened in 2006. Now, only buses taxis and emergency vehicles can use it.
There is a local legend about the bridge. It is said to resemble a dragon. Casino Lisboa represents the dragon’s head. The Taipa Monument on Taipa Pequena is the dragon’s tail.
Decree-Law No. 70/95/M regulates the bridge. It covers the Friendship Bridge and access viaducts too.
The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge has many names. Some call it the Old Macau–Taipa Bridge. Others call it Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho. Still, others call it the “fragrant hen bridge”.
Interestingly, the bridge once had tolls. It cost 3 to 20 patacas. This depended on the vehicle type. However, tolls were removed on January 1 1982. Bus fares remained unchanged then.
Several bus routes use the bridge. These include routes 11 21 and 21A.
The bridge faced challenges with increasing traffic. The Friendship Bridge and the Sai Van Bridge helped reduce this. In 2005, the bridge closed for repairs. It reopened to public transport and authorized vehicles later.
Typhoon Hato in 2017 caused damage to other bridges. The Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge opened to the public temporarily. Later it returned to its restricted usage.
Accidents have occurred on the bridge. In 2004, a bus collision injured 25 people. In 2016, a taxi accident resulted in fatalities. A 2017 bus crash injured 32. These incidents led to safety measures. Public buses now have a speed limit of 50 km/h.
Today, the Governor Nobre de Carvalho Bridge continues to serve Macau. It remains an important link. It also stands as a reminder of Macau’s past and progress.