Hølen Viaduct
The Hølen Viaduct (Norwegian: Hølen viadukt) is a disused iron railway viaduct situated at Hølen in Akershus county, Norway. The iron carried a single track of the Østfold Line over the river Såna and the valley where the village of Hølen is located. The viaduct was the first pendulum pillar bridge in the world, and was designed by the principle's inventor, Axel Jacob Petersson. It is 130.6 meters (428 ft) long.
Hølen Viaduct Hølen viadukt | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 59.539°N 10.740°E |
| Carries | Østfold Line |
| Crosses | Såna |
| Locale | Hølen, Vestby, Norway |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | Iron |
| Total length | 130.6 m (428 ft) |
| Longest span | 9.4 m (31 ft) |
| No. of spans | 14 |
| History | |
| Designer | Axel Petersson |
| Opened | 2 January 1879 |
| Closed | 21 September 1996 |
| Replaced by | Hølendalen Bridge |
| Location | |
The viaduct was built as part of the Østfold Line and opened on 2 January 1879. It was structurally strengthened through a pillar replacement program in 1914. From 1931 Hobøl Station was situated on its north end. A new section of Østfold Line opened on 21 September 1996, resulting in the viaduct and the old line being closed. Hølen Viaduct is still standing, but not in use.