Attock Bridge
{{Short description|Bridge in Pakistan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=October 2019}}
Attock Bridge ({{langx|ur|{{Nastaliq|اٹک پل }}}}) is situated between Attock Khurd and Khairabad Kund on Indus River in Pakistan. It is commonly known as "Old Attock Bridge". This bridge is one of the most important strategic and commercial crossing on the Indus River between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, hence was heavily fortified.
History
File:Fortified Northwestern Railway bridge over the Indus at Attock LCCN2004707360.jpg
Attock Bridge was designed by Sir Guildford Molesworth and was opened to traffic on 24 May 1883.{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1446221 | title=Centuries-old Attock Khurd Railway Station to be uplifted as tourist attraction | date=18 November 2018 }} The cost of construction was more than Rs 3.2 million.{{cite web | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1446221 | title=Centuries-old Attock Khurd Railway Station to be uplifted as tourist attraction | date=18 November 2018 }}
The structure was redesigned by Sir Francis Callaghan and was reconstructed in 1929, at the cost of Rs 2.5 million. The bridge spanning over {{convert|1395|ft|m}} has 2 levels and 5 spans, of which 3 spans are {{convert|257|ft|m}} long and 2 spans are {{convert|312|ft|m}} long. The upper level is use for railway traffic and lower level was used for road traffic. The approaches to the bridge were built as solid fortifications - as a defense against raids from nearby Pashtun tribesmen.
This bridge was a part of famous Grand Trunk Road. In 1979 a new bridge was constructed and road traffic was shifted to there. This new bridge is known as "New Attock Bridge".[http://pakistaniat.com/2009/02/03/railway-bridge-on-indus-at-attock/ Railway Bridge on Indus at Attock][http://www.irfca.org/gallery/Foreign/Saif+in+Pakistan/Old+Attock+Bridge/?g2_page=1 http://www.irfca.org]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bridges in Pakistan}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|33.8725|N|72.2368|E|type:landmark_region:PK|display=title}}
Category:Bridges over the Indus River
Category:Railway bridges in Pakistan