19 June, re-inauguration of the Hanging Bridge

Bizkaia Bridge was compelled to witness the cruel events of the Spanish Civil War and its consequences. The bombings luckily did not affect its structure until, in June 1937 and before the imminent arrival of the Nationalist troops, the Northern Army Engineers Battalion received the order to destroy the means of crossing the Nervión River to hinder the advance of Franco’s troops. Hence, with a great explosion, the Bridge came tumbling down. Nothing could be done to avoid it, not even the fact that, 5 days later, on 22 June, the war was over on the Bilbao Front. Two years had to pass before its reconstruction could begin and at last, on a day like today 77 years ago, on 19 June 1941, Bizkaia Bridge opened up for service for a second time.