overpass

The world's first railroad flyover was constructed in 1843 by the London and Croydon Railway at Norwood Junction railway station to carry its atmospheric railway vehicles over the Brighton Main Line.{{cite book |last=Turner |first=J.T. Howard |title=The London Brighton and South Coast Railway 1. Origins and formation |publisher=Batsford |year=1977 |location=London |page=249 |isbn=978-0-7134-0275-9 |via=Internet Archive |url=https://archive.org/details/londonbrightonso0000turn_t7e4/page/249/mode/1up?view=theater&q=flyover+%22the+first+in+the+world%22 }}

In North American usage, a flyover is a high-level overpass, built above main overpass lanes, or a bridge built over what had been an at-grade intersection. Traffic engineers usually refer to the latter as a grade separation. A flyover may also be an extra ramp added to an existing interchange, either replacing an existing cloverleaf loop (or being built in place of one) with a higher, faster ramp that eventually bears left, but may be built as a right or left exit.

A cloverleaf or partial cloverleaf contains some 270 degree loops, which can slow traffic and can be difficult to construct with multiple lanes. Where all such turns are replaced with flyovers (perhaps with some underpasses) only 90 degree turns are needed, and there may be four or more distinct levels of traffic. Depending upon design, traffic may flow in all directions at or near open road speeds (when not congested). For more examples, see Freeway interchange.

A pedestrian overpass allows traffic to pass without affecting pedestrian safety.

Railway overpasses are used to replace level crossings (at-grade crossings) as a safer alternative. Using overpasses allows for unobstructed rail traffic to flow without conflicting with vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Rapid transit systems use complete grade separation of their rights of way to avoid traffic interference with frequent and reliable service.

Railroads also use balloon loops and flying junctions instead of flat junctions, as a way to reverse direction and to avoid trains conflicting with those on other tracks.

Overpasses in Spain.JPG|Overpasses near Barcelona

Cumberland Highway.jpg|Cumberland Highway overpasses a street in Sydney

Los Angeles Freeway Interchange.jpg|A high-capacity stack interchange: the Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange in Los Angeles

SandgateRailOverpass.JPG|Sandgate Flyover, New South Wales, where two main railway lines pass over two dedicated coal lines

South entrance of Zheng Qi Overpass 20110114.jpg|Zheng Qi overpass, Taipei

Overpass-NYThruway-355.25-c.jpg|New York State Thruway overpass

Pedestrian overpass.JPG|Pedestrian overpass, I-64, St. Louis, Missouri. This overpass is located at the St. Louis Science Center.

Sion Panvel Highway Kharghar exit.jpeg|A road sign on Sion Panvel Highway in India instructing travellers to use flyover for onward journey.

Burbank Ave I-5 overpass under construction in Burbank, California.JPG|Overpass under construction over Interstate 5 in Burbank, California, July 2021

Athens-Kiffisia-aerial.jpg|Round overpass in Athens

General Holmes Drive from aircraft window.jpg|Sydney airport taxiway going over a major road.

Welcome to New Jersey Turnpike Southbound Edgewood Road Bridge 2023.jpg|Sign welcoming drivers to the New Jersey Turnpike under the Edgewood Road Bridge in Leonia, New Jersey

• Footbridge
• Skyway
• Stack interchange
• Viaduct
• Wildlife crossing

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Category:Bridges

Category:Railway buildings and structures

Category:Road infrastructure

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