Nine Arch Bridge, a viaductbetween the Ella and Demodara railway stations, is made entirely of cemNine Arch Bridge, a viaduct between the Ella and Demodara railway stations, is made entirely of cement, brick, and stone, with no steel used in its construction. Rising 80 feet over the lush hills of Sri Lanka's central highlands region, the engineering marvel has stood tall since opening in 1921. Why was steel not used in building this bridge? It's said that soon after construction of the crossing began, World War I broke out and the steel earmarked for the bridge was instead sent by British authorities to war-related projects. This was at a time when Sri Lanka was still the British Crown colony of Ceylon . The lack of steel didn't stop the local Sri Lankan bridge builders, however, and their ingenuity has stood the test of time... See more See less
