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{{Short description|Multiple-span bridge crossing an extended lower area}}
{{BridgeTypePix|type_name=Viaduct|image=MiltonViaduct.jpg|image_title=] in Ayrshire is the oldest surviving railway bridge in Scotland|sibling_names=None|descendent_names=None|ancestor_names=], ]|carries=], ], ]s, ]|span_range=Short (multiple)|material=], ], ]|movable=No|design=medium|falsework=available for use, since viaducts are all composed of low bridges.}}
⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
A '''viaduct''' is a ] composed of several small ] for crossing a valley, dry or wetland, or forming a ].<ref name="mer-web"></ref><ref name="thecol"></ref><ref></ref><ref name="oxf"></ref><ref name="Coll"></ref>
{{BridgeTypePix

|type_name=Viaduct
The term is conventional for a rail flyover as opposed to a ] or a rail bridge which crosses one feature. In ], the word ''viaduct'' refers to a bridge which spans only land. A bridge spanning water is called ''ponte''.
|image=Laighmilton1.JPG

|image_title=The 1812 ] in Ayrshire – the oldest surviving railway bridge in Scotland
The term ''viaduct'' is derived from the ] ''via'' for road and ''ducere'', to lead. The ] did not use the term; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with ].<ref name="oxf"/>
|sibling_names=]

|descendent_names=None
Like the ]s, many early viaducts comprised a series of arches of roughly equal length.
|ancestor_names=], ]|carries=], highways, streets, railways
|span_range=Short (multiple)
|material=], ], ]
|movable=No
|design=medium
|falsework=available for use, since viaducts are all composed of low bridges.
}}
A '''viaduct''' is a specific type of ] that consists of a series of arches, ]s or ]s supporting a long elevated railway or road. Typically a viaduct connects two points of roughly equal elevation, allowing direct ] across a wide valley, road, river, or other low-lying ] features and obstacles.<ref name="oxf">{{cite web|url=https://www.oed.com/|title=viaduct – Definition of viaduct in English by Oxford English Dictionary|website=OED|access-date=21 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="mer-web">{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/viaduct|title=Definition of VIADUCT|website=www.merriam-webster.com|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> The term ''viaduct'' is derived from the ] ''via'' meaning "road", and ''ducere'' meaning "to lead". It is a 19th-century derivation from an ] with ] ].<ref name="oxf"/> Like the ]s, many early viaducts comprised a series of arches of roughly equal length.


==Over land== ==Over land==
] in Sussex, England]]
⚫ The longest in ] may have been the ] which crossed wide marshes in southern France.<ref>Colin O’Connor: Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press 1993, {{ISBN|0-521-39326-4}}, p. 99</ref>


⚫ The longest viaduct in ] may have been the ] which crossed wide marshes in southern France.<ref>Colin O’Connor: Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press 1993, {{ISBN|0-521-39326-4}}, p. 99</ref> At its longest point, it measured 2,679 meters with a width of 22 meters.
Viaducts are commonly used in many cities that are ] centers, such as ], ], ], ] and ]. These viaducts cross the large ]s that are needed for freight trains there, and also cross the multi-track railroad lines that are needed for heavy railroad traffic. These viaducts keep ] and city street traffic from having to be continually interrupted by the ] traffic. Likewise, some viaducts carry railroads over large valleys, or they carry railroads over cities with many cross-streets and avenues.


Many viaducts over land connect points of similar height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river ] or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys had roads descending either side (with a small bridge over the river, where necessary) that become inadequate for the traffic load, necessitating a viaduct for "through" traffic.<ref>Brownlee, Christy (March 2005) "Taking the high road: France's new bridge helps a small town dodge traffic—and set a new world record" ''SuperScience'' 16(6): pp.12–15;</ref> Such bridges also lend themselves for use by ] traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes.<ref>Davidsen, Judith (April 1993) "A new "lite" rail viaduct formula: Norman Foster designs a rapid-transit viaduct for Rennes, France" ''Architectural Record'' 181(4): p.26;</ref> Some viaducts have more than one deck, such that one deck has vehicular traffic and another deck carries rail traffic. One example of this is the ] in ], ], that carries motor traffic on the top deck as ], and metro as the ] ] on the lower deck, over the steep ] ]. Others were built to span settled areas, crossing over roads beneath—the reason for many viaducts in London. Viaducts are commonly used in many cities that are railroad ]s, such as Chicago, Birmingham, London and ]. These viaducts cross the large ]s that are needed for ]s there, and also cross the multi-track railroad lines that are needed for heavy rail traffic. These viaducts provide ] and keep highway and city street traffic from having to be continually interrupted by the train traffic. Likewise, some viaducts carry railroads over large valleys, or they carry railroads over cities with many cross-streets and avenues.
]]]
Many viaducts over land connect points of similar height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river valley or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys had roads descending either side (with a small bridge over the river, where necessary) that become inadequate for the traffic load, necessitating a viaduct for "through" traffic.<ref>Brownlee, Christy (March 2005) "Taking the high road: France's new bridge helps a small town dodge traffic—and set a new world record" ''SuperScience'' 16(6): pp.12–15;</ref> Such bridges also lend themselves for use by rail traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes.<ref>Davidsen, Judith (April 1993) "A new "lite" rail viaduct formula: Norman Foster designs a rapid-transit viaduct for Rennes, France" ''Architectural Record'' 181(4): p.26;</ref> Some viaducts have more than one deck, such that one deck has vehicular traffic and another deck carries rail traffic. One example of this is the ] in Toronto, Canada, that carries motor traffic on the top deck as ], and metro as the ] ] on the lower deck, over the steep ] ]. Others were built to span settled areas, crossing over roads beneath—the reason for many viaducts in London.


==Over water== ==Over water==
]]]

Viaducts over water make use of islands or successive arches. They are often combined with other types of bridges or tunnels to cross navigable waters as viaduct sections, while less expensive to design and build than tunnels or bridges with larger spans, typically lack sufficient horizontal and vertical clearance for large ships. See the ]. Viaducts over water make use of islands or successive arches. They are often combined with other types of bridges or tunnels to cross navigable waters as viaduct sections, while less expensive to design and build than tunnels or bridges with larger spans, typically lack sufficient horizontal and vertical clearance for large ships. See the ].


The ] is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the ] near ] in southern France. Designed by the French bridge engineer ], in collaboration with architect ], it is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125&nbsp;ft)—slightly taller than the ] and only 38&nbsp;m (125&nbsp;ft) shorter than the ]. It was formally dedicated on 14 December 2004 and opened to traffic two days later. The viaduct ] in China is the ] according to ] {{as of|2011|lc=y}}.<ref>, Guinness World Records. Last accessed July 2011.</ref> The ] is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river ] near ] in southern France. It opened in 2004 and is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125&nbsp;ft). The viaduct ] in China was the ] {{as of|2011|lc=y}}.<ref>, Guinness World Records. Last accessed July 2011.</ref>


==Land use below viaducts== ==Land use below viaducts==
], ].]] ] in ], England.]]

] in ].]]
Where a viaduct is built across land rather than water, the space below the arches may be used for businesses such as car parking, vehicle repairs, light industry, bars and nightclubs. In the United Kingdom, many railway lines in urban areas have been constructed on viaducts, and so the infrastructure owner ] has an extensive property portfolio in arches under viaducts.<ref>http://property.networkrail.co.uk/industrialunitstolet.aspx</ref> In Berlin the space under the arches of elevated subway lines is used for several different purposes, including small eateries or bars. Where a viaduct is built across land rather than water, the space below the arches may be used for businesses such as car parking, vehicle repairs, light industry, bars and nightclubs. In the United Kingdom, many railway lines in urban areas have been constructed on viaducts, and so the infrastructure owner ] has an extensive property portfolio in arches under viaducts.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://property.networkrail.co.uk/industrialunitstolet.aspx| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120517005210/http://property.networkrail.co.uk/industrialunitstolet.aspx| archive-date = 2012-05-17| title = Light Industrial Units To Let/Rent {{!}} Small Industrial Space}} </ref> In Berlin the space under the arches of elevated subway lines (]) is used for several different purposes, including small eateries or bars.


==Past and future== ==Past and future==
Elevated expressways were built in major cities such as ] (]), ], ], ] (]).<ref></ref> Some were demolished because they were unappealing and divided the city.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} However, in developing nations such as ], ] (]), ], ], ], ] elevated expressways have been built and more are under construction to improve traffic flow, particularly as a workaround of land shortage when built atop surface roads.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} In ] viaducts are used for ]s in ] and also for ]s such as the ]. The ] in ] is a disused viaduct which was converted to an ] in 1993. ] were built in major cities such as ] (]), Los Angeles, San Francisco, ], Tokyo and ] (]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tac-atc.ca/english/resourcecentre/readingroom/conference/conf2003/pdfs/gadiner.pdf|title=Toronto built, then demolished an expressway|website=tac-atc.ca|access-date=27 March 2018|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204817/http://www.tac-atc.ca/english/resourcecentre/readingroom/conference/conf2003/pdfs/gadiner.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some were demolished because they were unappealing and divided the city.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} In other cases, viaducts were demolished because they were structurally unsafe, such as the ] in San Francisco, which was damaged by an earthquake in 1989. However, in developing nations such as Thailand (], the ]), India (]), China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nicaragua, elevated expressways have been built and more are under construction to improve traffic flow, particularly as a workaround of land shortage when built atop surface roads.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}


Other uses have been found for some viaducts. In Paris, France, a repurposed rail viaduct provides a garden promenade on top and workspace for artisans below. The garden promenade is called the ] while the workspaces in the arches below are the ]. The project was inaugurated in 1993. Manhattan's ], inaugurated in 2009, also uses an elevated train line as a linear ].
==Gallery==

<gallery>
In Indonesia viaducts are used for railways in ] and also for highways such as the ]. In January 2019, the ] in Seattle was closed and replaced with a ] after several decades of use because it was seismically unsafe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program |website=] |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/construction-planning/major-projects/alaskan-way-viaduct-replacement-program#Background |at=History & background |access-date=26 July 2024 }}</ref>
Image:Tren a las nubes cruzando Viaducto la Polvorilla.jpg|Viaduct (also a ]) of ] in ], ].

Image:Gevj1.JPG|Renmin Lu Viaduct of the city of ] (formerly Canton) is the first viaduct built in ].
], Paris, France. ]]
File:Karasu Viaduct.png|Karasu Viaduct on the {{TUR-O|3}}, ].

Image:The Viaduct.JPG|The ] in ], ]
==See also==
Image:Canton Viaduct.jpg|The ] is an example of a ] ].
{{Portal|Transport|Engineering|Architecture}}
File:Knaresborough Viaduct from River Nidd.jpg|] viaduct is an elegant four-span bridge standing 78&nbsp;ft high above the River Nidd.
* ]
Image:Arthington Viaduct.jpg|A 21-arch bridge spanning Yorkshire's ], engineered for the Leeds and Thirsk Railway circa 1850.
* ]
Image:Lobb Ghyll Viaduct.jpg|A derelict viaduct known as Lobb Ghyll, built by the ] in 1888 to connect ] and ].
* ]
Image:Toronto-bloorviaduct.jpg|The ] in ] is an example of a viaduct with multiple decks.
* ]
Image:Railway Viaduct.jpg|Railway viaduct crossing the ] in ], United States. Built in 1903.
* ]
Image:Cypress structure.jpeg|The ] was an example of a double decker freeway in ] which collapsed in the ] and was later demolished.
Image:Steamtown-Nicholson-Viaduct.JPG|The ] in ] is thought to be the largest concrete bridge in the world.
Image:The Alaskan Way Viaduct.jpg|The ] in ], United States. Demolition is scheduled to start in early 2019, (or possibly later) after the tunnel being built to replace it is complete.
Image:Viaduc de Millau 1.jpg|The ], and the town of Millau, France on the right. It is the tallest bridge in the world.
File:Garabit.jpg|The ] is a steel ].
Image:Quality-i70.jpg|The ] connects ] with downtown ].
File:Crumlin Viaduct, on the Taff Vale Extension of the West Midland Railway.jpeg|Crumlin Viaduct, on the Taff Vale Extension of the West Midland Railway, 1855.
</gallery>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|22em}}
{{commons category}}
⚫ {{Wiktionary}}
{{reflist|colwidth=35em}}


== External links ==
⚫ {{Bridge footer}}
* {{Commons category inline|Viaducts}}
⚫ * {{Wiktionary inline|viaduct}}


⚫ {{Bridge footer}}
⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}}
{{Authority control}}


] ]

Latest revision as of 18:18, 13 December 2024

Multiple-span bridge crossing an extended lower area

Viaduct
The 1812 Laigh Milton Viaduct in Ayrshire – the oldest surviving railway bridge in ScotlandThe 1812 Laigh Milton Viaduct in Ayrshire – the oldest surviving railway bridge in Scotland
AncestorTrestle bridge, Box girder bridge
RelatedAqueduct
DescendantNone
CarriesExpressways, highways, streets, railways
Span rangeShort (multiple)
Materialreinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, masonry
MovableNo
Design effortmedium
Falsework requiredavailable for use, since viaducts are all composed of low bridges.

A viaduct is a specific type of bridge that consists of a series of arches, piers or columns supporting a long elevated railway or road. Typically a viaduct connects two points of roughly equal elevation, allowing direct overpass across a wide valley, road, river, or other low-lying terrain features and obstacles. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via meaning "road", and ducere meaning "to lead". It is a 19th-century derivation from an analogy with ancient Roman aqueducts. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early viaducts comprised a series of arches of roughly equal length.

Over land

The Ouse Valley Viaduct in Sussex, England

The longest viaduct in antiquity may have been the Pont Serme which crossed wide marshes in southern France. At its longest point, it measured 2,679 meters with a width of 22 meters.

Viaducts are commonly used in many cities that are railroad hubs, such as Chicago, Birmingham, London and Manchester. These viaducts cross the large railroad yards that are needed for freight trains there, and also cross the multi-track railroad lines that are needed for heavy rail traffic. These viaducts provide grade separation and keep highway and city street traffic from having to be continually interrupted by the train traffic. Likewise, some viaducts carry railroads over large valleys, or they carry railroads over cities with many cross-streets and avenues.

Viaduct near Slade, Plymouth, painting by Nicholas Matthew Condy

Many viaducts over land connect points of similar height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river valley or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys had roads descending either side (with a small bridge over the river, where necessary) that become inadequate for the traffic load, necessitating a viaduct for "through" traffic. Such bridges also lend themselves for use by rail traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes. Some viaducts have more than one deck, such that one deck has vehicular traffic and another deck carries rail traffic. One example of this is the Prince Edward Viaduct in Toronto, Canada, that carries motor traffic on the top deck as Bloor Street, and metro as the Bloor-Danforth subway line on the lower deck, over the steep Don River valley. Others were built to span settled areas, crossing over roads beneath—the reason for many viaducts in London.

Over water

The Millau Viaduct

Viaducts over water make use of islands or successive arches. They are often combined with other types of bridges or tunnels to cross navigable waters as viaduct sections, while less expensive to design and build than tunnels or bridges with larger spans, typically lack sufficient horizontal and vertical clearance for large ships. See the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed road-bridge that spans the valley of the river Tarn near Millau in southern France. It opened in 2004 and is the tallest vehicular bridge in the world, with one pier's summit at 343 metres (1,125 ft). The viaduct Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China was the longest bridge in the world as of 2011.

Land use below viaducts

"Deansgate Locks" bars under a Light Rail station in Manchester, England.

Where a viaduct is built across land rather than water, the space below the arches may be used for businesses such as car parking, vehicle repairs, light industry, bars and nightclubs. In the United Kingdom, many railway lines in urban areas have been constructed on viaducts, and so the infrastructure owner Network Rail has an extensive property portfolio in arches under viaducts. In Berlin the space under the arches of elevated subway lines (S-Bahn) is used for several different purposes, including small eateries or bars.

Past and future

Elevated expressways were built in major cities such as Boston (Central Artery), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seoul, Tokyo and Toronto (Gardiner Expressway). Some were demolished because they were unappealing and divided the city. In other cases, viaducts were demolished because they were structurally unsafe, such as the Embarcadero Freeway in San Francisco, which was damaged by an earthquake in 1989. However, in developing nations such as Thailand (Bang Na Expressway, the world's longest road bridge), India (Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway), China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Nicaragua, elevated expressways have been built and more are under construction to improve traffic flow, particularly as a workaround of land shortage when built atop surface roads.

Other uses have been found for some viaducts. In Paris, France, a repurposed rail viaduct provides a garden promenade on top and workspace for artisans below. The garden promenade is called the Coulée verte René-Dumont while the workspaces in the arches below are the Viaduc des Arts. The project was inaugurated in 1993. Manhattan's High Line, inaugurated in 2009, also uses an elevated train line as a linear urban park.

In Indonesia viaducts are used for railways in Java and also for highways such as the Jakarta Inner Ring Road. In January 2019, the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle was closed and replaced with a tunnel after several decades of use because it was seismically unsafe.

The Viaduc des Arts, Paris, France.

See also

References

  1. ^ "viaduct – Definition of viaduct in English by Oxford English Dictionary". OED. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  2. "Definition of VIADUCT". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  3. Colin O’Connor: Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press 1993, ISBN 0-521-39326-4, p. 99
  4. Brownlee, Christy (March 2005) "Taking the high road: France's new bridge helps a small town dodge traffic—and set a new world record" SuperScience 16(6): pp.12–15;
  5. Davidsen, Judith (April 1993) "A new "lite" rail viaduct formula: Norman Foster designs a rapid-transit viaduct for Rennes, France" Architectural Record 181(4): p.26;
  6. Longest bridge, Guinness World Records. Last accessed July 2011.
  7. "Light Industrial Units To Let/Rent | Small Industrial Space". Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
  8. "Toronto built, then demolished an expressway" (PDF). tac-atc.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. "Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program". Washington State Department of Transportation. History & background. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

External links

  • Media related to Viaducts at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of viaduct at Wiktionary
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