The span corresponding to Section 9, which is 33 meters long and weighs 71 metric tons, will be installed on the right bank of the estuary

Bizkaia, July 27, 2026. The construction of the All Iron footbridge, which will connect Barakaldo and Erandio to improve pedestrian and bicycle mobility on both banks of the estuary, reaches a new milestone today with the start of assembly of the first section over the water. This is Section 9, a structure measuring 33 meters in length, 8.3 meters in width, and weighing approximately 71 metric tons, which will be installed on the right bank of the estuary in Erandio.

The operation will take place this afternoon using a pontoon equipped with a 300-metric-ton chain crane, specially prepared for this type of operation. Once the floating platform is positioned and stabilized, the crane will lift the section using a sling specifically designed to ensure the safety and precision of the installation. After lifting the section, the crane will rotate it as needed to position it on its final supports, aligning one end with Section 10 and resting the opposite end on Pier 9 of the future footbridge.

Once it is in its final position, temporary safety welds will be made at various points along the structure to secure it and ensure its stability. Subsequently, the crane will gradually relieve some of the section’s weight while the permanent welds between the pieces are completed.

Throughout the operation, technical teams will conduct continuous topographic monitoring to verify the structure’s correct alignment and geometry before the maneuver is considered complete. In addition, the section incorporates specific reinforcement elements designed to prevent transverse movement during lifting and installation operations.

To complete the permanent connection with the already-installed section, a work platform will need to be set up to allow welding along the entire perimeter of the structure. These assembly and welding tasks are expected to take between three and four weeks.

From the Zorrotza Dock to Erandio

Section 9 arrived at the Zorrotza dock in the early morning hours of July 2 from the Goros workshop in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Due to the limitations of the special transport, the section was transported in two separate pieces, which were later assembled to form the final structure. At Zorrotza, assembly, geometric alignment, welding, and dimensional checks were carried out to ensure that the components met the required tolerances, a necessary step prior to their transport across the estuary.

Once the bench assembly of the two sections was completed last Friday, a 500-metric-ton crane loaded them onto the barge, securing the elements to prevent movement during navigation. The tugboats then transported them across the estuary from the Zorrotza pier to the vicinity of the assembly site in Erandio, covering a distance of nearly 2.5 km.

Since then, the barge has remained anchored and moored in a safe area, protected from the current and tidal variations. Assembly will begin in the early afternoon, as the considerable weight of the structure made it necessary to time the work to coincide with high tide.

Bizkaia Sectoral Territorial Plan for Bicycle Lanes 2023–2035

The new footbridge was created with a clear objective: to facilitate daily travel on foot and by bicycle between Barakaldo and Erandio, and to strengthen the connection with public transportation. The project is part of Bizkaia’s territorial strategy to promote more sustainable mobility, reduce private vehicle use, and cut pollutant emissions.

Specifically, the project is part of the Bizkaia Sectoral Territorial Plan for Bicycle Paths 2023–2035, which includes routes L3 and L4 on the right and left banks of the estuary, respectively, with the goal of strengthening bicycle and pedestrian connectivity between municipalities.

This creates an alternative route to motorized transportation for short- to medium-distance trips between municipalities—one that is intended not only as a recreational option but as a genuine alternative for all types of travel between these municipalities, thereby promoting Sustainable Urban Mobility. Additionally, it supports public transit, as it connects to the train in Ezkerraldea and to the metro in Eskuinaldea.

The new footbridge was created with a clear goal: to facilitate daily travel on foot and by bicycle between Barakaldo and Erandio, and to strengthen the connection with public transportation. The project is part of Bizkaia’s regional strategy to promote more sustainable mobility, reduce private vehicle use, and cut pollutant emissions.

Specifically, the initiative is part of Bizkaia’s 2023–2035 Sectoral Territorial Plan for Bicycle Lanes, which includes routes L3 and L4 on the right and left banks of the estuary, respectively, with the goal of strengthening cycling and pedestrian connectivity between municipalities.

This creates an alternative route to motorized transportation for short- to medium-distance trips between municipalities—one that is intended not only as a recreational option but as a genuine alternative for all types of travel between these municipalities, thereby promoting sustainable urban mobility. Additionally, it supports public transit, as it connects to the train in Ezkerraldea and to the metro in Eskuinaldea.

Una grúa de cadenas de 300 toneladas inicia el montaje del primer tramo sobre el agua de la pasarela All Iron entre Barakaldo y Erandio