e-mosty 4 2016 Arch Bridges | Page 6

Madrid - Extremadura - Portuguese Border HSR Link On following pages we are bringing you information about two of the most important structures on the HSR (High Speed Railway) Line that will eventually connect Madrid and Lisbon: The viaducts crossing the Tagus (Tajo) and Almonte rivers, at the Alcántara reservoir Tagus (Tajo) River Viaduct The width of the obstacles to be bridged, the impossibility of using piles in the riverbeds and the requirement to respect the environmental impact statement, have led to both having a “concrete arch” design, with main spans of 324 and 384 metres, respectively. The 384 metres without supports of the central span of the viaduct over the Almonte River make it the widest span arched concrete railway bridge in the world. The construction process chosen for erecting both bridges is similar to that used successfully for the Contreras Viaduct, on the Levante line. Meeting the challenge of constructing this type of viaduct confirms the high level of Spanish infrastructure engineering. Almonte River Viaduct 4/2016