Langwies Viaduct
284 metres long, 62 metres high, with a span of 100 metres – and, upon its completion in 1914, the largest reinforced concrete bridge in the world. The Langwies Viaduct on the Arosa Railway over the Plessur was no ordinary structure from the outset. Due to a shortage of building materials and transport difficulties, a reinforced concrete structure was the only viable option. A technique that had scarcely been tested at the time – and a gamble that paid off.
The Arosa Railway opened on 12 December 1914, after a construction period of just over two years. Up to 3,000 workers were employed along the entire route. The bridge passed its final test with flying colours: when loaded with a steam locomotive and three heavily laden goods wagons, it sagged by less than a millimetre.
Today, the viaduct is recognised as a cultural asset of national importance and ranks among Switzerland’s most famous bridges. The train rolling across the bridge up here with a few goods wagons simply continues to write this story.
