Viaduc de la Méditerranée, Railway bridge in Grigny-sur-Rhône, France
The viaduc de la Méditerranée is a two-track railway bridge over the Rhône between Ternay and Grigny-sur-Rhône, on the Givors-Canal to Chasse-sur-Rhône line. Its main span is a single shallow reinforced-concrete arch of 124 m, pale tan, with the deck hung at mid-height by 16 steel hangers clad in concrete. The arch springs from massive angled piers kept from the earlier bridge, and yellow lettering on its upper left face reads "VIADUC DE LA MEDITERRANEE".
The bridge was built in 1950, during a period when France was rebuilding and expanding its railway network after World War II. It was designed to carry trains heading toward the Mediterranean coast across the Rhône valley.
The bridge is clearly visible from the paths and roads nearby and can be viewed from ground level without difficulty. A visit works best in clear weather, when the structure stands out well against the sky.
When it opened in 1950, the bridge held the world record for span among double-track railway bridges with a suspended reinforced-concrete deck. Its main arch spans 124 m, and the deck hangs from 16 steel hangers per arch, clad in concrete. The old bridge carried the formwork for the new one while trains kept running.
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