The Demodara Nine Arch Bridge in Sri Lanka is a huge arch bridge with nine arches, 300 feet (91.44 meters) high and 25 feet (7.62 meters) wide, which is a major tourist event in Ella city, which is highly appreciated and visited by local and foreign tourists. The bridge and the railway track on it are designed with an inclination of 1:44. Similarly, the bridge is created with a bend. The track has a curvature of 9 and the distance between two arches is 30 feet.
The
bridge is created in a swamp between two mountains. The base of the mud pit has
been prepared with strength, and nine arches have been built supporting 10
large pillars. There is a big circular hole in the middle of each of those big
towers. According to reports, the base of the bridge was made by interlocking
kabok stone blocks, crushed graphite blocks and concrete in very deep pits.
Also,
the planks, wood, etc. needed to be used for scaffolding and arch parts in the
construction of the bridge have been imported from Burma. This nine-arch bridge
is not built using granite. For that purpose, concrete blocks mixed with
cement, sand and stones in the ratio of 3:2:1 have been used. The stones are
bound together with cement mortar.
Anyone
can find out that the British engineer named H. R. Marwoodi is designed the rough
plan of the nine-arch bridge. According to sources, the work on this bridge was
started in 1913-1917 and completed in 1919. D. In the creation of the bridge of
nine arches, Sri Lankan engineers like D. J. Wimalasurendra have also
participated.
Also,
the masonry work of this nine-arch bridge has been led by the mason named P. K.
Appuhami. Harry Chanlee, a British engineer who assisted in the construction of
this nine-arch bridge, fell from the scaffolding and died on the spot.
The Demodara nine-arch railway bridge also called as the Bridge in the Sky is located between Ella and Demodara railway stations, Sri Lanka.
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