Tehran – One of Iran’s most iconic engineering feats of the 20th century and an important link to the Iranian Trans Railway, the Belescu Bridge, celebrated its 89th anniversary.
Located in the highlands of Belescu village, about 27 kilometers south of Pol et Sefid in Sabadok County, Mazandaran, the bridge stands as a testament to international cooperation and technical ingenuity.
The Veresk Bridge, commissioned during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, was established on May 6, 1936 (16 Ordibehesht 1315) at a ceremony attended by the monarch himself.
To dispel the public’s fears about the strength of the bridge, Reza Shah is said to have ordered foreign engineers and their families to stand under the structure as the first train crossed.
Built at an altitude of 110 meters (now reduced to about 106 meters due to sediment and rising water levels), the bridge spans a 66-meter arch of a deep canyon connecting Tehran and the North railway. Built with primitive tools by the multinational workforce (Swiss, Italian, German, Austrian, Danish), the bridge was designed and constructed by the Danish company Kampsax and provided a 70-year warranty on its durability.
Chief engineer, Austrian Walter Eigner, is buried in Belesque at his request, and a memorial stands near the bridge in honor of workers who lost their lives during its construction and the excavation of nearby tunnels.
Veresk Bridge acquired Monica’s Pol Piluj or “Bridge of Victory” during World War II, when Iran served as a key supply route for the Allied forces. The railway played an important role in transporting troops and materials to the Soviet Union, helping to counter the siege of Germany on the Eastern Front.
The bridge, which was recognized for its historical and strategic importance, was engraved on Iran’s national heritage list in 1977. Most recently, in 2021, the entire Iranian railway, which is the 1,394-kilometer crown jewel, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site during the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee in Fuzev.
The Trans-Iran Railway extends from the southeast coast of the Caspian Sea near the port of Torukaman, crosses Mount Alborz, across the Alborz mountains, across the plains of QOM and Arak, penetrates the Zagros Highlands in Lorestan, and is eventually divided into two branches, Portuhaian and Imamham in the Persian Bay.
At age 89, Veresk Bridge is not only an important part of Iran’s transportation infrastructure, but also a symbol of resilience, innovation and historical continuity.
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