A railway over bridge (ROB) is built over railway tracks to accommodate traffic. It is designed to avoid the interception of highways and railway tracks, ensuring an uninterrupted flow for both cars and trains. Typically, made of steel or concrete, ROBs are built to withstand a lot of weight, allowing large trains to safely pass over them. These bridges are built at a height that prevents trains from obstructing the movement of vehicles as they pass underneath. The railway authority and the local civic authorities are responsible for planning and coordinating the construction of an ROB.
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See also: Foot overbridge: Fact guide
Railway over bridge: Benefits
- Increased safety: One of the main advantages of ROBs is that they do away with the necessity of level crossings between highways and railway tracks, lowering the possibility of train-vehicle collisions.
- Enhanced traffic flow: Vehicles can cross underneath the ROBs without being impeded by passing trains, allowing for continuous vehicular traffic flow. This eases traffic congestion.
- Reduced travel time: Since drivers no longer must wait for trains to pass at level crossings, which can result in considerable delays, ROBs can help cut travel time for cars.
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Railway over bridge: Construction
- Finding the site where a bridge is required is the first stage of building an ROB. Typically, this entails locating level crossings that are contributing to traffic congestion and safety issues.
- Once the location has been determined, the ROB’s design and engineering can start. This entails making detailed designs and drawings that consider factors like the bridge’s height and width, the kind of materials to be utilised and the load-bearing capability required.
- Permits and permissions must be obtained from the concerned authorities, such as the railway division, the municipality and environmental agencies, before construction can start.
- Then, the construction can start. There are various steps involved in building an ROB including clearing the site, laying the groundwork, erecting the support structures and piers and constructing the bridge deck. Depending on the scope and level of detail of the project, the construction can take many months or even years to complete.
- After construction is finished, the bridge must go through a thorough testing process to make sure it is safe and structurally sound. The bridge can be certified and made public only once it has successfully completed all tests.
FAQs
Who is responsible for the construction of ROBs?
The railway department and the local city authorities typically work together to construct ROBs. The local government provides financing and works with other organisations to secure the required permissions and clearances, while the railway department offers technical expertise.
What varieties of ROBs are there?
Based on their design and construction, ROBs can be divided into a number of varieties, such as simply supported ROBs, uninterrupted ROBs, cable-stayed ROBs and extra-dosed ROBs.
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