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The Attock Bridge is situated between Attock Khurd and Khairabad Kund on Indus river (now in Pakistan.) It is now commonly known as "Old Attock Bridge". This bridge is one of the most important strategic and commercial crossing on the Indus River between Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, hence was heavily fortified.

The crossing at Attock was considered very important for military strategic reasons. In 1853, one Colonel Crommelin proposed two designs, both which made use of suspension bridges to cross the Indus. While this design didn’t go forward, British provided a better bridge of boats for winter, ferry boats for summer and a light rowing boat for daak (postal services) .

In 1859, Colonel Robertson proposed the idea of a tunnel and following is an extract from his report:

The dimensions I propose for the tunnel inside are twenty-four feet wide by twenty feet in height, and a lining under the river of brick masonry two feet thick. This places foundation level of the roadway 82 feet under the low water level, and placing the entrances one hundred feet above this level for safety, we have 182 feet to descend and ascend. The grade I propose is 1 in 20; this is rather steep for railway traffic but offers no difficulties for normal road traffic. The width of the river bed at the point I have selected for the tunnel is 1215 feet.

In 1859, Colonel Robertson proposed the idea of a tunnel and following is an extract from his report:

The dimensions I propose for the tunnel inside are twenty-four feet wide by twenty feet in height, and a lining under the river of brick masonry two feet thick. This places foundation level of the roadway 82 feet under the low water level, and placing the entrances one hundred feet above this level for safety, we have 182 feet to descend and ascend. The grade I propose is 1 in 20; this is rather steep for railway traffic but offers no difficulties for normal road traffic. The width of the river bed at the point I have selected for the tunnel is 1215 feet.

The original 'old' Attock Bridge

It was originally designed by Sir Guildford Lindsey Molesworth the consulting engineer to the Indian State Railways and the ironwork supplied by Westwood, Baillie and Co. of London .

In 1880 the bridge was erected and the cost of construction was more than Rs 3.2 millions and was opened to traffic on 24 May 1883 .

The design was over-seen by

Comment:

• Grace's Guide states the bridge "designed by Sir Francis Callaghan ... 1880 The bridge was erected"
• Wikipedia states "the structure was redesigned by Sir Francis Callaghan and was reconstructed in 1929"

Second Bridge The bridge was reconstructed between 1926-1929 by replacing the longer spans. The trusses were also extended for two sections of the bridge, at the cost of Rs 2.5 millions. The bridge has 2 levels and 5 spans. The trusses were also extended for two sections of the bridge. Three spans are 257 feet long and two are 312 feet long. The upper level is use for railway traffic and lower level was used for road traffic. The approaches to the bridge were built as solid fortifications - as a defense against raids from nearby Pashtun tribesmen. This bridge was a part of famous Grand Trunk Road .

Road Bridge In 1979 a new bridge was constructed and road traffic was shifted to there. This new bridge is known as "New Attock Bridge". Attock Bridge is still in use for railway traffic .

References

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