280 m of cover of the river Huerva in Zaragoza, Spain, are being dismantled to be replaced by new beams and slab. The original work has been in service for 80 years and the always seeking nice works council according to its profligacious customs of these days has decided its substitution more on age than anything, for no actual distress signal has there been. Hope the new work is able to stand as much (many would bet not). The walls are retained to sustain the new cover. Even more length of false tunnel for the river remains downstream (might be some years more younger).
The works are framed in the construction of a 27 km long surface tramway, other quite discussed political push of the council, since tramways were discarded about the seventies or so.
Also ... there's talk of deviating the river itself through a pipe ... that would place the interesting question of the new trace of the tubed river ... and would create an around 1 km long void under maybe the most important artery through the center of the town. Real state, mall? Refuge (quite weak a roof)? Parking?
This kind of deviation was made in Valencia and I remember at least a museum was placed in the vacated bed of the river. But normally a significant length of river allows for more than a museum.
Nor deviating rivers is a recent practice. I think it was Nimrod, a king of the antiquity, but might be other, who made him be buried under the banks of a river that was to the purpose deviated. Then, the waters were allowed to return to their bed. More romantical times. Yet surely there were by then richistus (those that had works contract with the council) that were happy with the idea. Like now.