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 level, 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:
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