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| ]'s ] bridges the ] valley; road traffic uses the upper deck, and ] traffic uses the lower deck.]] | ]'s ] bridges the ] valley; road traffic uses the upper deck, and ] traffic uses the lower deck.]] | ||
| ] in ] is an example of another common use for the viaduct, allowing an increase in traffic capacity within a limited space.]] | ] in ] is an example of another common use for the viaduct, allowing an increase in traffic capacity within a limited space.]] | ||
| A '''viaduct''' is a ] that connects points of equal height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river ] or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys have 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 ] traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes. It gets its name from an analogy with ], which must be almost level in some cases, while a bridge for people, pack animals or non-rail vehicles can be hump-backed and gain a structural advantage (i.e., less material or design sophistication needed) from that shape. | A '''viaduct''' is a ] that connects points of equal height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river ] or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys have 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 ] traffic, which requires straighter and flatter routes. It gets its name from an analogy with ], which must be almost level in some cases, while a bridge for people, pack animals or non-rail vehicles can be hump-backed and gain a structural advantage (i.e., less material or design sophistication needed) from that shape. | ||
Revision as of 01:04, 3 April 2006
A viaduct is a bridge that connects points of equal height in a landscape, usually by bridging a river valley or other eroded opening in an otherwise flat area. Often such valleys have 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. It gets its name from an analogy with aqueduct, which must be almost level in some cases, while a bridge for people, pack animals or non-rail vehicles can be hump-backed and gain a structural advantage (i.e., less material or design sophistication needed) from that shape.
Some well-known viaducts include:
- Prince Edward Viaduct
- Millau Viaduct
- Moodna Viaduct
- Glenfinnan Viaduct
- Chelfham Viaduct (Narrow gauge, in England)
- Thelwell Viaduct
- Lethbridge Viaduct
- Cypress Viaduct
- Interstate 805 Viaduct
- Nuselsky most in Prague
- Garabit Viaduct
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