Ten Arches Bridge () is a

viaduct A viaduct is a specific type of bridge that consists of a series of arches, piers or columns supporting a long elevated railway or road. Typically a viaduct connects two points of roughly equal elevation, allowing direct overpass across a wide ...

Amman Amman ( , ; , ) is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. With a population of four million as of 2021, Amman is Jordan's primate city and is the largest city in the Levant ...

, Jordan, that was built as part of the Hejaz Railway during the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...

. It is considered one of Amman's oldest landmarks. Completed in 1904 when the Amman station was inaugurated, it became a primary target for destruction by Allied forces in a failed attack during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. A structural analysis in 2022 showed the bridge could still withstand loads, but is at risk of damage from a strong earthquake.

History

The

was built in

as part of the Hejaz Railway during the

. It was completed in 1904 when the Amman station was inaugurated to its north. During

, Allied forces based in

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

staged an attack across the

Jordan River The Jordan River or River Jordan (, ''Nahr al-ʾUrdunn''; , ''Nəhar hayYardēn''), also known as ''Nahr Al-Sharieat'' (), is a endorheic river in the Levant that flows roughly north to south through the Sea of Galilee and drains to the Dead ...

in early 1918, with the principal aim of destroying Ottoman railway communications surrounding the north and south of the city, including most importantly, the Ten Arches Bridge, which was not achieved. In 2022, researchers from the

American University of Madaba The American University of Madaba (Arabic: الجامعة الاميركية في مادبا) is a non-profit university located in Madaba, Jordan. It opened in October 2011, and expects to eventually accommodate 8,000 students once the campus is ...

performed a structural assessment on the bridge, owing to its historical value and old age, finding that it could still withstand vertical and horizontal pressures, but might be damaged by a strong earthquake. The study also found that no major damages had occurred to the bridge in the past century, and that only minor maintenance work is needed, recommending a periodic assessment and inspections to maintain its structural integrity.

Structure

The bridge is made of two-floor arches of limestone blocks, with the upper one made of ten arches containing the railway, and the lower one made of eight arches consisting of a pedestrian path and water drainage channels. The bridge is considered one of Amman's old landmarks, and is still used by trains running on the Hejaz Railway.

References

{{Reflist Viaducts Bridges in Jordan Buildings and structures in Amman Bridges completed in 1904 1904 establishments in the Ottoman Empire

History

Structure

See also

References