Battalgazi Bridge

The Battalgazi Bridge (Turkish: Battalgazi Köprüsü), also known as the Euphrates Railway Bridge (Turkish: Fırat Demiryolu Köprüsü), is a 2,030 m (6,660 ft) long railway bridge spanning the Euphrates river in eastern Turkey, located about 27 km (17 mi) northeast of Malatya.

Battalgazi Bridge Battalgazi Köprüsü
Coordinates	38.2711°N 38.3505°E
Carries	1 track of the Fevzipaşa-Kurtalan railway
Crosses	Euphrates
Locale	Battalgazi, Malatya Province and Baskil, Elazığ Province
Named for	Battalgazi
Owner	Turkish State Railways
Characteristics
Total length	2,030 m (6,660 ft)[1]
Height	60 m (200 ft)
History
Construction start	1981[1]
Construction end	1986
Inaugurated	16 June 1986[1]
Replaces	Old Battalgazi Bridge
Location

The structure was built between 1981-86 by the Turkish State Railways, on the Fevzipaşa-Kurtalan railway, as a replacement for an older bridge, opened in 1935, which was flooded with the construction of the Karakaya Dam.[1][2] The bridge was the longest bridge in Turkey from 1986 to 2007, when it was surpassed by the Bornova Viaduct in Izmir; and the longest railway bridge until 2008, when surpassed by the Sakarya Viaduct. Currently, it is the 7th longest bridge in the country and 2nd longest railway bridge.

References

1. "Türkiye'nin En Uzun Fırat Demiryolu Köprüsü Teknik Özellikleri". rayhaber.com. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
2. "TCDD History". trainsofturkey.com. Retrieved 15 August 2017.