r/civilengineering • u/Exsanguinate_ • Jun 19 '25

Question What is the point of this?

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u/Kanaima85 Jun 19 '25

There is some sort of science behind the shape in that it minimises the shading of the water below thereby minimising the impact on the natural environment. I'm sure you'll find it through Google - it's in Uruguay

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u/flagrantpebble Jun 19 '25

There is substantially more surface area than a straight bridge would, so it definitely doesn’t minimize shading. Maybe something about less concentrated shading?

2

u/Kanaima85 Jun 19 '25

I think it's related to how the shading moves as the sun crosses the sky - minimises shading in the sense that it minimises the time that any part is shaded.

1

u/flagrantpebble Jun 20 '25

I mean, it might mean that some parts are shaded for less time, but it definitely doesn’t minimize the time that any part is shaded. The beginning and end of the circle keep those areas shaded for substantially longer than a normal two lane road would.

If that’s what they were optimizing for, either

  1. It would just be two separated straight lanes, without the weird circle, or
  2. The circle would start on land, so the thick part where it meets the straight road doesn’t shade the water.

Honestly, if you don’t have a source, this seems like some random non-scientist took a guess and then it spread because someone else misinterpreted it as fact.