Victor Bodson Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Victor Bodson Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge
in Hesperange
, in southern Luxembourg
. It circles the south-eastern suburbs of Luxembourg City, and carries the A1 motorway between Howald
and Itzig
, over the Alzette
valley below.
The bridge was completed in 1993, as part of the extension of the A1 from Senningerberg
(serving Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
) to the south of Luxembourg City. The bridge is 260 metres (284.3 yd) long, and stands 40 metres (43.7 yd) above the level of the Alzette below. The bridge is a total of 27 metres (29.5 yd) wide, consisting of two lane
s running in each direction, separated by a central reservation
, along with two emergency pavement
s.
Because the valley under the bridge is inhabited, the design was limited to a single support pillar
, located exactly in the middle of the bridge. The bridge is stayed by a single suspension mast, located above the support pillar and from which radial cable
s fan out along the length of the bridge. Despite its reliance on a single mast for suspension, the bridge is notable for being curved along its entire length.
The bridge is named after Victor Bodson
, a government minister in the 1940s and 1950s that held responsibility for Public Works, Transport
, and Justice.
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
in Hesperange
Hesperange
Hesperange is a commune and town in southern Luxembourg. It is located south-east of Luxembourg City.The total population of the commune is 13,103 persons...
, 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...
. It circles the south-eastern suburbs of Luxembourg City, and carries the A1 motorway between Howald
Howald
Howald is a town in the commune of Hesperange, in southern Luxembourg. The town merges almost seamlessly with Luxembourg City's south-eastern suburban quarter of South Bonnevoie, which lies to the north of Howald...
and Itzig
Itzig, Luxembourg
Itzig is a town in the commune of Hesperange, in southern Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 2,005....
, over the Alzette
Alzette
The Alzette is a river with a length of 73 kilometers in France and Luxembourg. It is a right tributary of the Sauer.It rises in Thil near the town Villerupt in the Meurthe-et-Moselle département, France. It crosses the border with Luxembourg after a few kilometres. In Lameschmillen it is joined...
valley below.
The bridge was completed in 1993, as part of the extension of the A1 from Senningerberg
Senningerberg
Senningerberg is a town in the commune of Niederanven, in central Luxembourg. , the town has a population of 1,536....
(serving Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
Luxembourg-Findel International Airport
Findel Airport is the main airport in Luxembourg.It is Luxembourg's only international airport and is the only airport in the country with a paved runway. It is located away from Luxembourg City....
) to the south of Luxembourg City. The bridge is 260 metres (284.3 yd) long, and stands 40 metres (43.7 yd) above the level of the Alzette below. The bridge is a total of 27 metres (29.5 yd) wide, consisting of two lane
Lane
A lane is a part of the roadway within a road marked out for use by a single line of vehicles in such a way as to control and guide drivers for the purpose of reducing traffic conflicts. Most public roads have at least two lanes, one for traffic in each direction, separated by Lane markings...
s running in each direction, separated by a central reservation
Central reservation
On divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
, along with two emergency pavement
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.
Because the valley under the bridge is inhabited, the design was limited to a single support pillar
Column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. For the purpose of wind or earthquake engineering, columns may be designed to resist lateral forces...
, located exactly in the middle of the bridge. The bridge is stayed by a single suspension mast, located above the support pillar and from which radial cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
s fan out along the length of the bridge. Despite its reliance on a single mast for suspension, the bridge is notable for being curved along its entire length.
The bridge is named after Victor Bodson
Victor Bodson
Victor Bodson was a justice minister of Luxembourg and received the Righteous Among the Nations award by the Israeli Supreme Court for his participation during the Holocaust in helping Jews in Germany escape persecution from the German government.Bodson was born in 1902 in Luxembourg...
, a government minister in the 1940s and 1950s that held responsibility for Public Works, Transport
Minister for Transport
A Ministry of Transport is a ministry or other government agency charged with transport. It may be headed by a Minister for Transport.Specific duties may be overseeing transportation safety, developing government transportation policy, organizing public transport, and the maintenance and...
, and Justice.