imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:1630s establishments in Portuguese India; added Category:1634 establishments in Portuguese India using HotCat

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removed Category:1630s establishments in Portuguese India; added Category:1634 establishments in Portuguese India using HotCat

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{{Infobox bridge
| bridge_name = Count of Linhares Bridge
| native_name = Ponte Conde de Linhares
| native_name_lang = pt
| image = File:Ribandar causeway.jpg
| caption = Ribandar Causeway
| maint = Goa Public Works Department
| other_name = Ponte de Linhares<br />Ribandar causeway<br />Patto causeway
| carries = [[Motor vehicle]]s
| crosses =
| locale = [[Ilhas]], [[Goa]], India
| length = {{Convert|3.2|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}
| begin = c. 1633
| complete = c. 1634
| coordinates = {{coord|15|30|5|N|73|50|54|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
}}

The '''Ponte Conde de Linhares''' ({{lang-en|Count of Linhares Bridge}}), often shortened to '''Ponte de Linhares''' is a {{convert|3.2|km|abbr=on}} long [[causeway]] connecting [[Ribandar]] to the main city of [[Panjim]] (now Panaji) in [[Goa]], India. It runs along the flood plains of the [[Mandovi River]] and is surrounded by various [[Salt evaporation pond|salt pans]].<ref name="filling">{{cite news|title='Govt mum over filling of salt pans, mangrove cutting at Panaji' |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/govt-mum-over-filling-of-salt-pans-mangrove-cutting-at-panaji/articleshow/6104097.cms |date=29 June 2010|location=Panaji |work=[[Times of India]] |accessdate=Jul 17, 2014}}</ref> There are ducts which act as [[tide]] controls. The Ponte Conde de Linhares was built in 1633–34 under the direction of the then [[Viceroy of Portuguese India]], [[Miguel de Noronha, 4th Count of Linhares]], after whom it is named.<ref name="parallel">{{cite news|title=Patto causeway to get parallel bridge |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Patto-causeway-to-get-parallel-bridge/articleshow/35744638.cms |date=30 May 2014 |location=Panaji|work=[[Times of India]]|accessdate=Jul 16, 2014}}</ref> The bridge is often said to have been the longest in the world at {{convert|3.2|km|abbr=on}} when it was completed in 1634.<ref name="jnnurm">{{Cite web|title=City Development Plan for Panaji|url=http://jnnurm.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/panaji_Chapter-2.pdf |publisher=Corporation of the City of Panaji|accessdate=Jul 16, 2014|page=2–3}}</ref>

The 2014 edition of the Panaji Carnival started at Ribandar-Merces Junction on the causeway.<ref name="carnivalplan">{{cite news|title=Panaji carnival traffic plan released |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Panaji-carnival-traffic-plan-released/articleshow/31124238.cms |date=8 February 2014 |location=Panaji |publisher=[[Times of India]] |accessdate=Jul 18, 2014}}</ref>

== Construction ==
[[File:Raibandar.jpg|thumb|250px|left|View of Ponte Conde de Linhares along the [[Mandovi River]] at dusk]]
The original structure of the bridge was designed and built by the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] of the [[Saint Paul's College, Goa|College of St. Paul]] in [[Old Goa]]. It was built on alluvial soil and stabilised with the trunk of the ''iliadola briformis'', a tree called Benth, locally known as Zambo. [[Laterite]] stone was used in the construction of the bridge superstructure. It was built to handle the load of horse drawn carriages of its time but has handled the load of heavy motor vehicles since then.<ref name="ccphistory">{{Cite web|title=Panaji and its history|url=http://www.ccpgoa.com/panjim-history-ci5 |publisher=Corporation of the City of Panaji|year=2011|accessdate=Jul 17, 2014}}</ref>

The causeway is supported by three arches on the eastern side, while thirty-eight arches support it on the western side. It was built at a cost of £3,333. A local tradition states that the bridge was built by the Jesuits in a single night using the light of a single lamp. On 22 June 1634, the bridge, as well as the surrounding land was handed over to the ''municipal chamber'' of the city for its maintenance and upkeep.<ref>{{cite book|author=José Nicolau da Fonseca|title=An Historical and Archæological Sketch of the City of Goa |url= https://archive.org/details/historicalarchol01fons_0 |accessdate=Jul 17, 2014|year=1878 |publisher=Thacker & Company, limited |location=Goa |page=[https://archive.org/details/historicalarchol01fons_0/page/332 332] }}</ref>

== Damage ==
In 1980s, planting of [[Mangrove]] trees on the southern bank of the river was undertaken by the forestry department to prevent erosion of the bridge.<ref name="thread">{{cite news|title=Ribandar causeway hanging by few threads |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Ribandar-causeway-hanging-by-few-threads/articleshow/30811241.cms |date=22 February 2014 |location=Ribandar |work=[[Times of India]] |accessdate=Jul 16, 2014}}</ref>

The bridge had been damaged due to continuous tidal motion in 2011 and 2014. To prevent it from further damage, construction of a protective wall was initiated by the Goa Public Works Department.<ref name="repairs">{{cite news|title=Repairs undertaken on heritage 380-year-old bridge |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Repairs-undertaken-on-heritage-380-year-old-bridge/articleshow/34263945.cms |date=27 April 2014 |location=Panaji |work=[[Times of India]]|accessdate=Jul 16, 2014}}</ref>

In order to prevent further damage, the Public Works Department diverted the movement of heavy vehicles from Panaji to Old Goa. Speed restrictions were imposed to slow down vehicles, with plans to further enforce them with the installation of [[traffic camera]]s.<ref name="sagging">{{cite news|title=PWD works on 'sagging' bridge sans restrictions |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/PWD-works-on-sagging-bridge-sans-restrictions/articleshow/31626059.cms |date=8 March 2014 |location=Panaji |work=[[Times of India]]|accessdate=Jul 18, 2014}}</ref>

== Tourism ==
In 2014, the [[Government of Goa]] proposed to build a parallel bridge for traffic and add attractions such as food stalls and toy trains for tourists on the existing structure.<ref name="funst">{{cite news|title=Ribandar causeway may become Fun Street |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Ribandar-causeway-may-become-Fun-Street/articleshow/36906655.cms |first=Joaquim |last=Fernandes |date=21 June 2014 |location=Panaji |work=[[Times of India]] |accessdate=Jul 16, 2014}}</ref> The state government sought funds from the [[Government of India]] to beautify the causeway as well as put up a proposal for a bridge parallel to the causeway which could be used as a marina.<ref name="proposal">{{cite news|title=Soon, luxury train to Goa from Mumbai |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Soon-luxury-train-to-Goa-from-Mumbai/articleshow/35799300.cms |date=31 May 2014 |location=Panaji |work=[[Times of India]] |accessdate=Jul 18, 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ponte Conde de Linhares}}
* [http://www.hpip.org/def/pt/Homepage/Obra?a=580 Information on the Ponte Conde de Linhares] {{in lang|pt}}
* [http://www.parrikar.com/blog/2010/12/21/panjim-promenade-ponte-de-linhares/ A blog about Ponte Conde de Linhares]

[[Category:Bridges in Goa]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1634]]
[[Category:1634 establishments in Portuguese India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in North Goa district]]
[[Category:Transport in Panaji]]

Ponte Conde de Linhares - Revision history

imported>BrownHairedGirl: removed Category:1630s establishments in Portuguese India; added Category:1634 establishments in Portuguese India using HotCat