Viaduct is a concept which comes from two Latin words: via (which can be translated as "path" ) and ductus (whose meaning in our language is "driving" ). A viaduct, therefore, is a work developed through the engineering which enables cross the entire surface of a valley .
Similar to a bridge , a viaduct can allow the passage of pedestrians or vehicles. That is why the viaducts, in some cases, are roads (routes ). There are also viaducts that are built for the installation of railway tracks that allow the transfer of a train.
Beyond the possibility of avoiding natural barriers thanks to these works , viaducts are also useful in cities for speed up traffic . By opening an airway for the circulation of vehicles, it is possible to decongest the streets and traditional avenues.
We can find examples of viaducts worldwide. In the city Chilean from Collipulli , to cite a case, we found the Malleco Viaduct , opened in 1890 and declared National Monument a century later. This railway viaduct allows you to cross the Malleco river .
One of the most important viaducts that exists in the territory of Spain is the so-called Segovia Viaduct, which is located in Madrid. Specifically, within the mentioned city, it is located in the area of Bailén and Segovia streets, close to the famous Royal Palace.
Reinforced and polished concrete is this work, carried out in the 70s, which is the result of the work of the architect Francisco Javier Ferrero and the engineers José Juan Aracil and Luis Aldaz Muguiro. It stands out for its many arches and it should be stressed that before him there were two other previous viaducts, one from the second half of the 19th century and another from the 30s of the 20th century.
It has a maximum height of 23 meters, is a perfect example of rationalist architecture and also incorporates brick seen in addition to concrete.
It has become an emblem of the city, so much so that there are numerous cultural manifestations in which it appears. Specifically, we can find references to it in works such as these:
-In the work “Lights of Bohemia” (1924) by Ramón María del Valle - Inclán.
-In films such as “High heels” (1991) or “Lovers passengers” (2013) by the Manchego filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.
-In numerous television series in Spain as would be the case of "Los serrano".
One of the curiosities that surround this viaduct is that it became the ideal place for suicides to take their lives. It is established that in the 90s there were up to four suicides a month from it.
In the French town of Aveyron the Millau Viaduct , whose inauguration occurred at the end of 2004 . Built on River Tarn , this viaduct is traveled by more than 10,000 vehicles every day.
It should be noted that, due to its characteristics , the viaducts resemble those aqueducts , although the latter are used for the transfer of water between two distant points. The Romans were the main aqueduct builders.
