Adolphe Bridge
Encyclopedia
Adolphe Bridge is an arch bridge
in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
. The bridge takes road traffic across the Pétrusse
, connecting Boulevard Royal
, in Ville Haute
, to Avenue de la Liberté
, in Gare
. At 17.2 m wide, it carries four lanes of road traffic, three to Gare and a bus lane
to Ville Haute, and has two footpath
s for pedestrians.
Adolphe Bridge has become an unofficial national symbol of sorts, representing Luxembourg's independence, and has become one of Luxembourg City's main tourist attraction
s. The bridge was designed by Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman
, and Paul Rodange, a Luxembourger, and was built between 1900 and 1903. Its design was copied in the construction of Walnut Lane Bridge
in Philadelphia
, the United States
.
The bridge was named after Grand Duke Adolphe
, who reigned Luxembourg from 1890 until 1905, and was the first monarch to hold the title not in personal union
with another. Although it is now over 100 years old, it is also known as the New Bridge by people from Luxembourg City. The 'old bridge' in this comparison is the Passerelle, which was built between 1859 and 1861.
, and the decline of its strategic importance, Luxembourg City reverted to the normalcy enjoyed by other cities. The city's built-up area spread southwards from Haute Ville, over the Pétrusse, where Luxembourg City's train station was already located. However, the only existing link to the south bank of the Pétrusse was the old viaduct
, which (at 5.50 m wide) was too narrow to accommodate all the traffic that would be expected between two halves of the city.
In 1896, the government hired Albert Rodange to draw up plans for a new bridge. Rodange identified the future bridge's position, connecting with the main axis of Boulevard Royal, and drew up initial plans for a large stone viaduct. However, as Rodange lacked experience in bridge building, the government invited a foreigner with specific expertise in the field to help design the bridge. Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman with years of experience designing similar viaducts in southern France, was chosen.
Although Séjourné concurred with Rodange's site and basic design, he made many major modifications. Instead of several medium-sized arches, Séjourné sought to build the bridge around a large central arch, flanked by smaller arches. The plan, which was adopted, called for:
In total, the bridge would have a length of 153 m. The plans were audacious for that day and age; at 84.65 m, the central span was to be the largest stone arch in existence. To support the weight, construction would have to make use of reinforced concrete
, a material that had only recently come into use. However, for the most part, the bridge was constructed from sandstone
, quarried locally at Ernzen
, Dillingen
, Gilsdorf
, and Verlorenkost.
, which was opened on 20 April 1904.
Major redesign work is now expected to begin in 2011 in connection with the LuxTram
project. A temporary bridge running in parallel is to be built in 2010 to accommodate traffic.
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The bridge takes road traffic across the Pétrusse
Pétrusse
The Pétrusse is a river flowing through Luxembourg, joining the Alzette at Luxembourg City. It flows through the town of Hollerich....
, connecting Boulevard Royal
Boulevard Royal
Boulevard Royal is a street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The boulevard is a one-way arterial road that runs around the northern and western parts of the city centre, Ville Haute...
, in Ville Haute
Ville Haute
Ville Haute is a quarter in central Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg.In 2001, the quarter had a population of 2,686 people.It is the historical center of Luxembourg City and is involved in its UNESCO World Heritage Site status....
, to Avenue de la Liberté
Avenue de la Liberté
Avenue de la Liberté is a street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The avenue is a one-way arterial road, with four lanes conveying traffic from the north of the Gare quarter to the south of that quarter, at Luxembourg railway station....
, in Gare
Gare, Luxembourg
Gare is a quarter in central Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is named after Luxembourg railway station .In 2001, the quarter had a population of 7,764 people.-Gallery:...
. At 17.2 m wide, it carries four lanes of road traffic, three to Gare and a bus lane
Bus lane
A bus lane or bus only lane is a lane restricted to buses, and generally used to speed up public transport that would be otherwise held up by traffic congestion...
to Ville Haute, and has two footpath
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
s for pedestrians.
Adolphe Bridge has become an unofficial national symbol of sorts, representing Luxembourg's independence, and has become one of Luxembourg City's main tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
s. The bridge was designed by Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and Paul Rodange, a Luxembourger, and was built between 1900 and 1903. Its design was copied in the construction of Walnut Lane Bridge
Walnut Lane Bridge
The Walnut Lane Bridge is a concrete arch bridge located in Northwest Philadelphia that connects the Germantown and Roxborough neighborhoods across the Wissahickon Creek in Fairmount Park. While drivers may cross the bridge too quickly to notice, the view from underneath the bridge has inspired...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The bridge was named after Grand Duke Adolphe
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
, who reigned Luxembourg from 1890 until 1905, and was the first monarch to hold the title not in personal union
Personal union
A personal union is the combination by which two or more different states have the same monarch while their boundaries, their laws and their interests remain distinct. It should not be confused with a federation which is internationally considered a single state...
with another. Although it is now over 100 years old, it is also known as the New Bridge by people from Luxembourg City. The 'old bridge' in this comparison is the Passerelle, which was built between 1859 and 1861.
Beginnings
With the demolition of the city's famous fortification, under the 1867 Treaty of LondonTreaty of London, 1867
The Treaty of London , often called the Second Treaty of London after the 1839 Treaty, was an international treaty signed on 11 May 1867. Agreed in the aftermath of the Austro-Prussian War and the Luxembourg Crisis, it had wide-reaching consequences for Luxembourg and for relations between...
, and the decline of its strategic importance, Luxembourg City reverted to the normalcy enjoyed by other cities. The city's built-up area spread southwards from Haute Ville, over the Pétrusse, where Luxembourg City's train station was already located. However, the only existing link to the south bank of the Pétrusse was the old viaduct
Viaduct
A viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
, which (at 5.50 m wide) was too narrow to accommodate all the traffic that would be expected between two halves of the city.
In 1896, the government hired Albert Rodange to draw up plans for a new bridge. Rodange identified the future bridge's position, connecting with the main axis of Boulevard Royal, and drew up initial plans for a large stone viaduct. However, as Rodange lacked experience in bridge building, the government invited a foreigner with specific expertise in the field to help design the bridge. Paul Séjourné, a Frenchman with years of experience designing similar viaducts in southern France, was chosen.
Design
- Twin parallel 84.65 m arches in the centre, surmounted by eight smaller arches of 5.40 m each.
- Two arches of 21.60 m flanking the central arch.
- Two further arches of 6.00 m outside the medium-sized arches.
In total, the bridge would have a length of 153 m. The plans were audacious for that day and age; at 84.65 m, the central span was to be the largest stone arch in existence. To support the weight, construction would have to make use of reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
, a material that had only recently come into use. However, for the most part, the bridge was constructed from sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, quarried locally at Ernzen
Ernzen
Ernzen is a small town in the commune of Larochette, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 383....
, Dillingen
Dillingen, Luxembourg
Dillingen is a village in the commune of Beaufort, in eastern Luxembourg. , the village has a population of 159....
, Gilsdorf
Gilsdorf
Gilsdorf is a small town in the commune of Bettendorf, in north-eastern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 864.It is the town in which Prince Louis of Luxembourg married. While it was an unusual choice of venue for the wedding of a Prince of the ruling Grand Ducal family, it is supposed...
, and Verlorenkost.
Construction
The first stone of the bridge was laid on the 14 July 1900, and it was inaugurated just over three years later, on 24 July 1903, with great ceremony. Originally, the bridge carried both road and rail traffic; two rail/tram tracks over the bridge formed part of the railway route from Luxembourg City to EchternachEchternach
Echternach is a commune with city status in the canton of Echternach, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher, in eastern Luxembourg. Echternach lies near the border with Germany, and is the oldest town in Luxembourg....
, which was opened on 20 April 1904.
Renovation
Adolphe Bridge was first renovated in 1961, and minor changes were made again in 1976. In 1990, the Luxembourgian government launched an investigation into the state of the bridge, and found that it showed signs of extensive damage, to both the stonework and steel. Between September 2003 and August 2004, the central arches were strengthened by the addition of 258 prestressed steel bars, with a total force of 25,600 tonnes (251 MN).Major redesign work is now expected to begin in 2011 in connection with the LuxTram
Trams in Luxembourg
Trams in Luxembourg started operation in 1875 when the first horse trams ran in Luxembourg City along a 10 km line. Electrification followed in 1908. The original track followed a route from the central station through the city centre to Limpertsberg. It was extended to various parts of the...
project. A temporary bridge running in parallel is to be built in 2010 to accommodate traffic.