The first great piece of work by Gustavo Eiffel is double hinged arch that sustains the single lane railway plate through pillars to reinforce the whole of the bridge. The construction works began on 5 January 1876 and were concluded the following year on 31 November. The solemn inauguration ceremony took place on 4 November 1877 by the king D. Luís and the queen D. Maria Pia, after whom the bridge was named. This bridge was used for 114 years, until 1991, when the Ponte S. João (S. João Bridge) became active.