{"id":108587,"date":"2023-02-09T05:23:59","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T05:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=108587"},"modified":"2023-02-09T05:27:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T05:27:00","slug":"ulapane-upside-down-bridge-with-arch-shaped-structures-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/ulapane-upside-down-bridge-with-arch-shaped-structures-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Ulapane Upside Down Bridge with arch shaped structures – By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ulapane Upside Down Bridge<\/strong> with arch shaped structures – <\/strong>By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"ArundathieSri Lanka has an impressive array of bridges, some are well-known bridges utilized by people from the day of construction to date, whereas some are popular tourist attractions. Majority of the bridges were constructed during the British Colonial Era. *Nine Arch Bridge, *Demodara Bridge, *Kallady Bridge, *Mahakandarawa Stone Bridge, *Bogoda Wooden Bridge, *Adam\u2019s Bridge and *Kunchikulam Suspension Bridge are some well-known bridges. Some of these bridges are situated off the beaten track and rarely visited by local as well as foreign tourists.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the British Colonial Era, the Colonials realized that the uplands of Sri Lanka were suitable for coffee, tea as well as rubber cultivations. Hence, they commenced a plantation economy in *Ceylon. By the mid-19th century, Ceylon Tea occupied a prominent place in the British market generating great wealth to a small class of British tea planters. To transport their crops from the hill country to Colombo, Colonials realized that there was a necessity to construct a bridge over *Mahaweli River at Ulapane (approximately one kilometer from Ulapane) in *Matale.<\/span><\/p>\n

This bridge is unique as the side arches (commonly found on steel bridges) are constructed at the bottom of the bridge with an inverted shape, instead of the usual design in other steel bridges found in different parts of Sri Lanka. Hence, this bridge is known as the \u201cFool\u2019s Bridge\u201d or the \u201cUpside Down Bridge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction of this bridge was commenced in 1903 by the Public Works Department and was open to the public on November 2, 1904 by the British. This bridge with arch shaped structures measured 66.46 meters (216 feet) in length and 3.08 meters (10 feet) in width.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bridge is entwined in myths and legends. According to one, when a British high official arrived to ceremoniously open the Bridge and saw that it has been constructed upside down, the engineer was embarrassed and committed suicide.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to scholars, this is a *truss bridge and the arch structure at the bottom of the Bridge with an inverted shape makes it more load bearing. These types of bridges are known as \u201cInverted Bowstring Truss type bridge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At present, this bridge is not utilized and the two entrances to the Bridge are engulfed in thick jungle. Hence, it is difficult to access the Bridge nor view it at close range.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the only location in the *Central Province where three road bridges over Mahaweli River exists in a single location. A section of a fourth bridge can also be seen in close proximity to the Upside Down Bridge.\u00a0 During the * Mahaweli Development Project, Mahaweli Authority commenced to construct a bridge adjacent to this bridge, yet, after one side was completed, it was abandoned.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Bridge can be seen clearly from the new bridge, yet, it is better to view it while traveling by train.<\/span><\/p>\n

After decades of utilizing the Bridge, a new concrete bridge has been constructed around 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n