Trajan's Bridge

Also known as Bridge of Apollodorus over the Danube

Roman segmental arch bridge over the lower Danube

Key facts

Crossed: Danube
Locale: Drobeta-Turnu Severin ( Romania ), Kladovo ( Serbia )
Heritage status: Historic Monument (Romania), Monuments of Culture of Exceptional Importance , and Archaeological Sites of Exceptional Importance (Serbia)
Material: Wood, stone
Total length: 1,135 m (3,724 ft)
Width: 15 m (49 ft)
Height: 19 m (62 ft)
Number span no of spans: 20 masonry pillars
Architect: Apollodorus of Damascus
Construction start: 103 AD
Construction end: 105 AD
Collapsed: Superstructure destroyed by Aurelian around 270 AD

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Article

Trajan's Bridge (Romanian: Podul lui Traian; Serbian: Трајанов мост, romanized: Trajanov most), also called Bridge of Apollodorus over the Danube, was a Roman segmental arch bridge, on the modern Serbian - Romanian border, the first bridge to be built over the lower Danube and considered one of the greatest achievements in Roman architecture. Though it was functional for only 165 years, it is often considered to have been the longest arch bridge in both total span and length for more than 1,000 years.

The bridge was completed in 105 AD and designed by Emperor Trajan's architect Apollodorus of Damascus before the Second Dacian War to allow Roman troops to cross the river. Fragmentary ruins of the bridge's piers are still in existence.