The Battalgazi Bridge (Turkish: Battalgazi Köprüsü), also known as the Euphrates Railway Bridge (Turkish: Fırat Demiryolu Köprüsü), is a bridge in eastern Turkey. It is a 2,030 m (6,660 ft) long railway bridge spanning the Euphrates river, located about 27 km (17 mi) northeast of Malatya.
Battalgazi Bridge Battalgazi Köprüsü | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°16′16″N 38°21′02″E / 38.2711°N 38.3505°E |
| Carries | 1 track of the Fevzipaşa-Kurtalan railway |
| Crosses | Euphrates |
| Locale | Battalgazi, Malatya Province and Baskil, Elazığ Province |
| Named for | Battalgazi |
| Owner | Turkish State Railways |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 2,030 m (6,660 ft)[1] |
| Height | 60 m (200 ft) |
| History | |
| Construction start | 1981[1] |
| Construction end | 1986 |
| Inaugurated | 16 June 1986[1] |
| Replaces | Old Battalgazi Bridge |
| Location | |
 | |
The structure was built between 1981 and 1986 by the Turkish State Railways, on the Fevzipaşa-Kurtalan railway, as a replacement for an older bridge, opened in 1935, which was flooded with the construction of the Karakaya Dam.[1][2] The bridge was the longest bridge in Turkey from 1986 to 2007, when it was surpassed by the Bornova Viaduct in İzmir; and the longest railway bridge until 2008, when surpassed by the Sakarya Viaduct. From 2008, it is the 7th longest bridge in the country and 2nd longest railway bridge.
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Türkiye'nin En Uzun Fırat Demiryolu Köprüsü Teknik Özellikleri". rayhaber.com. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ "TCDD History". trainsofturkey.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.