Astico Railway Bridge
Astico Railway Bridge
Ponte sull'Astico
Piovene Rocchette, Veneto, Italy
(213) feet high / (65) meters high
302 foot span / 92 meter span
1909-1966
The Ponte sull'Astico was the largest and highest bridge structure along the 21 kilometer Ferrovia Rocchette-Asiago that opened in 1909. The demand for the line came from the growing textile industry that was thriving in the upper Vicenza region of Italy.
Construction on the giant inverted 92 meter long belly-type truss began in 1908 by the Brambilla company of Milan while the 60 meter long masonry approach arches were built by the Bianchi-Steiner company, also of Milan.
After World War II, increased road construction made the line obsolete and on July 31, 1958 the route was officially closed. Eight years later the steel truss of the Astico Bridge was destroyed. Later on the 2-lane Sant'Agata Bridge opened parallel to the old Astico Railway Bridge alignment.
Astico Railway Bridge destruction.
Astico Railway Bridge satellite image.
Astico Railway Bridge location map.