A subtle reinterpretation of the traditional haunched-girder viaduct
VRT Velké Meziříčí
2025
The viaduct comprises two separate ‘decks’ each consisting of concrete piers, fixed integrally to a haunched concrete box girder deck without the use of bearings. The haunches are shaped such that the soffit of the central span forms a subtle arc across the full span; this echoes the historic arched viaducts nearby. This symmetrical arrangement sits comfortably within the valley, minimises the number of foundations, and responds to the different uses beneath the viaduct. The central spans of the two decks are located above the wildlife corridor and the river and roads respectively, marking these important routes beneath the bridge.
A slender split pier separates the two decks, marking the midpoint of the structure and the valley with a visually expressed gap; this central pier also accommodates thermal, shrinkage and creep movements through flexure in the pier rather than relying on sliding bearings on the piers. The separate deck units also enable rail expansion joints to be eliminated, with the rail continuous across the entire structure. The two most problematic bridge components – rail expansion joints and bearings - are therefore eliminated, massively reducing inspection and maintenance requirements.
The cross section is arranged such that the deck cantilevers beyond the beams, this allows the parapet to read as a continuous light band along the top structure, with the box beam in partial shadow below; extending the piers to the top of the box serves to visually recess the box further. This breaks up the mass of the viaduct and makes it appear lighter, reducing the visual impact of the viaduct on the site.
