The viaduct is a bridge of special design

As already clear from the title of the article, the viaduct is a bridge structure. This project differs from bridges of other types and structures with high supports and a long extension. Most often, engineers suggest building such structures at the intersection points of roads with marshy places, river valleys, gorges and ravines. In the event that the construction of a high embankment is not advisable in a particular zone, it is entirely permissible to erect a viaduct, which, solving the problems with movement over a given territory, is also an economically advantageous option.

Viaduct: the distinctive characteristics

Literally, the viaduct is in translation from the Latin "way" (via) and "lead" (duco). In other words, it is a special bridge leading through something (providing movement through something) and having very high supports. However, if the bridge is an artificial structure that is thrown across a lake, river or other water obstacle, then the viaduct is a construction that is carried through a ravine, precipice or ravine. By the way, this creation is also different from the overpass, which is a crossing over the freeway, railroad tracks, etc. From the flyover, which has identical spans, the viaduct differs by their difference. The largest span most often falls to the highest part of the entire bridge. In addition, the overpass is mainly built above the level surface. The viaduct is a completely justified construction measure, when the ground, due to its weakness, does not allow using a different structure as a bridge. If necessary, its design allows you to gradually increase the height of the spans. It can be built of stone, concrete, reinforced concrete, metal. As a rule, a viaduct is mainly a multi-span and arched, and not a beam structure. The history of the first such construction goes back to the times of prosperity of the Ancient Roman Empire.

The most famous in the world

These viaducts are the most famous in the world:

• The Kaluga stone bridge.
• Mokrinsky railway station, located in the Chuvash Republic.
• Gelchtal'brucke is the tallest brick building of this type in the world.
• The Scottish viaduct, located near the village of Glenfinnan.
• Viaduct across the Siduhe River (the lumen of this highest transport bridge in the world is at least 0.472 km).
• Viaduct Millau (its highest support is 0.341 km).

More about the latest

The Millau Viaduct is a bridge structure of the cable system that passes through the valley of the Tarn River near the town of Millau, in the south of France, in the Averones department. It is the last part of the A75, which provides high-speed traffic from the capital (Paris) to the city of Beziers. The authors of the project are two outstanding scientists in the field of engineering and architecture: Michelle Virlho and Norman Foster. The grandiose structure constructed by them crosses the lowest point of the Tarn valley, connects the red plateau with the Larzak plateau and passes the perimeter of the Great Plateau (national nature park) along its inner side.

More about options

The Millau Bridge is a steel roadway, consisting of 8 spans. Its support is provided by the same number of steel columns. The weight of this roadway is 36,000 tons. Its width is 32 m and the depth is 4,2 m. The total length of the Millau viaduct is 2460 m. Each of the central spans (6 pieces) has a length of 342 m, and the remaining two extreme ones - 204 m. This viaduct, whose photo Fascinating, as already mentioned, is one of the most famous in the world. Movement on it began in December 2004. It seems that there is no need to explain how the viaduct differs from the bridge in this particular case.

Today's viaduct

In the distant past, the bridge, which has the design of a modern viaduct, was built solely from massive stones that passed a long hand carving. To create such projects, a large amount of physical labor and time was spent. Looked at such structures cumbersome and heavy, the view was quite reliable. Due to the fact that the very idea of an architectural bridge of this kind was quite demanded by mankind, in the process of the development of civilization, and, accordingly, the technology of making building materials and the construction itself, ideas for the erection of such structures also evolved. Use in the construction of such bridges of metal, reinforced concrete and concrete allows them to be made (with the preservation of arch construction and the development of beam) less material-intensive. Thanks to the farm systems, today's viaducts conquer the imagination with naked designs that differ in visual weightlessness and delicacy and yet withstand incredible loads.

What is a viaduct

Everyone, thinking about this issue, understands that such a bridge is a testament to the ability of people to conquer nature, to tame it. It was thanks to the strength of his reason that man was able to conduct safe and powerful roads with good lengths where, even from the geological point of view, it would seem, there is no possibility for such construction. These designs are an integral part of the twenty-first century, evidencing the development of the industrial and construction industry of our time. Each viaduct is a stunning beauty and power building, which is the fruit of the thought of brilliant engineers and talented architects.