Solis Viaduct, Railway bridge in Alvaschein, Switzerland
The Solis Viaduct is a stone railway bridge spanning 164 meters across the Albula Valley with eleven limestone arches reaching about 89 meters high. It carries the single-track line between Thusis and Tiefencastel and remains an active part of the Rhaetian Railway network.
Engineer Hans Studer designed this bridge in 1902 as the first stone arch structure in Switzerland built using elasticity theory principles. Its innovative design became a landmark achievement in bridge construction of that era.
The structure holds Class B status in the Swiss Cultural Property inventory and forms an integral part of the transportation heritage in the Albula region.
You can view the viaduct best from the road or from hiking trails running through the valley at different levels. The best perspective is from below, where you can appreciate the arches and height of the structure.
A major renovation in 1997 replaced the entire sealing system with a new drainage network installed beneath the gravel bed. These hidden improvements were crucial to protect the structure from water damage for decades.
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