Overpass

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the 2015 Canadian film, see Overpass (film).

Mohakhali flyover in Dhaka,Bangladesh.

The Judge Harry Pregerson Interchange with the Harbor Freeway (I-110) in Los Angeles.

An overpass (called a flyover in the United Kingdom and some otherCommonwealth countries) is
a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway.
An overpass and underpasstogether form a grade separation.[1] Stack interchanges are made up of
many overpasses.
Contents
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1History

2Highway and road

3Pedestrian

4Railway

5See also

6References

History[edit]

Overpass in Washington, DC

The world's first railroad flyover was constructed in 1843 by the London and Croydon
Railway at Norwood Junction railway station to carry itsatmospheric railway vehicles over
the Brighton Main Line.[2]
The first flyover in India was opened on 14 April 1965 at Kemps Cornerin Mumbai.[3] The 48 feet
(15 m) long bridge was constructed in about seven months by Shirish Patel at a cost
of 17.5 lakh (equivalent to5.5 crore or US$820,000 in 2013).[4]

Highway and road[edit]

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.

Pedestrian[edit]
A pedestrian overpass allows pedestrians safe crossing over busy roads without impacting traffic.

Railway[edit]
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.